Written Answers Nos. 105-111
105. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices projected to be in training, by employment sector, in each of the years to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11151/16]
View answerAs of the 31st March 2016 the apprenticeship population was 9,628. This includes 820 redundant apprentices. The apprenticeship population fluctuates based on the number of apprenticeship registrations and the numbers completing their apprenticeships. As apprenticeship registrations in the existing trades have been increasing in recent years, more apprentices are in the earlier years of apprenticeship than at the later phases. This means that the levels of completions will be relatively low in the immediate future in many trades.
Annual registrations increased by 40% from 2013 to 2014 and the 2015 figure of 3,153 represented a further 17% increase. The increase in registrations is forecast to be sustained up to at least 2018. These forecasts, by trade, for 2016 to 2018 are set out in the attached table. This will result in continuing growth in the apprenticeship population in the existing trades. SOLAS do not yet have forecasts beyond 2018 but will continue to update their forecasts based on their formal economic model.
In addition, the apprenticeship population will be further significantly supplemented by registrations on new apprenticeships which are being developed under the auspices of the Apprenticeship Council.
|
Forecst Registrations |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
|
Trades |
|||
|
Construction |
|||
|
Brick & Stonelaying |
65 |
120 |
215 |
|
Carpentry & Joinery |
425 |
645 |
975 |
|
Floor & Wall Tiling |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Painting & Decorating |
25 |
60 |
100 |
|
Pipefitting |
30 |
28 |
28 |
|
Plastering |
25 |
65 |
120 |
|
Plumbing |
370 |
525 |
625 |
|
Stonecutting & Stonemasonry |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Wood Manufacturing & Finishing |
35 |
90 |
140 |
|
Total |
989 |
1,547 |
2,217 |
|
ELECTRICAL |
|||
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
40 |
40 |
40 |
|
Electrical |
990 |
1,205 |
1,360 |
|
Electrical Instrumentation |
60 |
60 |
60 |
|
Electronic Security Systems |
20 |
20 |
20 |
|
Instrumentation |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning |
70 |
70 |
75 |
|
Total |
1,194 |
1,409 |
1,569 |
|
ENGINEERING |
|||
|
M.A.M.F. |
190 |
195 |
200 |
|
Farriery |
8 |
8 |
8 |
|
Industrial Insulation |
14 |
14 |
14 |
|
Metal Fabrication |
220 |
220 |
220 |
|
Sheet Metalworking |
40 |
50 |
50 |
|
Toolmaking |
65 |
65 |
65 |
|
Total |
537 |
552 |
557 |
|
MOTOR |
|||
|
Agricultural Mechanics |
40 |
40 |
40 |
|
Construction Plant Fitting |
60 |
85 |
100 |
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
142 |
146 |
152 |
|
Motor Mechanics |
370 |
374 |
388 |
|
Vehicle Body Repairs |
50 |
50 |
50 |
|
Total |
662 |
695 |
730 |
|
Print Media |
8 |
16 |
16 |
|
Total |
8 |
16 |
16 |
|
Grand Total |
3390 |
4219 |
5089 |
106. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the national skills strategy published in January 2016 and containing the target to support the delivery of 50,000 apprenticeship and traineeship places up to 2020 is still Government policy, given that the programme for Government states that 31,000 places are targeted for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11152/16]
View answerThe National Skills Strategy target covers both apprenticeship and traineeship whereas the Programme for Government commitment referred to only covers apprenticeship. There is a separate commitment in the Programme for Governemnt to significantly increase the number of traineeship places.
107. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Education and Skills to review an application for reasonable accommodations at the leaving certificate examinations in 2016 for a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; if dyslexic students are entitled to the same opportunities as regular students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11155/16]
View answerThe State Examinations Commission has statutory responsibility for operational matters relating to the certificate examinations.
Currently the SEC operates a Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations for candidates with special needs in the examinations. The Scheme applies to candidates who have a physical or medical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia is one such specific learning difficulty). All applications for reasonable accommodations are considered within a published Framework of Principles established by an Expert Advisory Group.
Reasonable accommodations are not intended to compensate for a possible lack of achievement arising from a disability or to compensate for difficulties arising from a candidate's general intellectual functioning. Reasonable accommodations are intended to;
(a) to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate his or her level of attainment and
(b) to ensure that, whilst giving candidates every opportunity to demonstrate their level of attainment, the special arrangements will not give the candidate an unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination. The range of accommodations includes, inter alia, provision of modified, brailled and enlarged papers for visually impaired students; access to readers, scribes, word-processor, tape or voice recorder for student with physical conditions or dyslexia or other types of SLD; exemptions from components of the examinations such as the oral or aural or the waiver from spelling and grammar in language subjects. Some students may apply for and be granted more than one type of accommodation.
I have forwarded your query in respect of the person whose details you have supplied to the State Examinations Commission for direct reply to you.
108. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Education and Skills how he is ensuring that all students sitting State examinations are being treated in a fair and equitable manner with regard to reasonable accommodations. [11164/16]
View answerCurrently the SEC operates a Scheme of Reasonable Accommodations at the Leaving and Junior Certificate examinations for candidates with special needs in the examinations. The Scheme applies to candidates who have a physical or medical disability, including visual and hearing impairments, or a specific learning difficulty (dyslexia is one such specific learning difficulty). All applications for reasonable accommodations are considered within a published Framework of Principles established by an Expert Advisory Group.
Reasonable accommodations are not intended to compensate for a possible lack of achievement arising from a disability or to compensate for difficulties arising from a candidate's general intellectual functioning. Reasonable accommodations are intended to;
(a) to remove, as far as possible, the impact of the disability on the candidate's performance and thus enable the candidate to demonstrate his or her level of attainment and
(b) to ensure that, whilst giving candidates every opportunity to demonstrate their level of attainment, the special arrangements will not give the candidate an unfair advantage over other candidates in the same examination.
The SEC has an Independent Appeals Committee to which applicants if they are not satisfied with the accommodations provided or denied may appeal to.
In addition, applicants when not satisfied with the decision of the Independent Appeals Committee have applied to the Ombudsman or the Ombudsman for Children to consider their complaint.
109. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he has put preventative measures in place to prevent an increase in dumping given the implementation of the pay-by-weight household collection charge; if he is offering support to local authorities, community groups and so on who have to tackle this issue on a daily basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10988/16]
View answerThere is no indication from areas where pay-by-weight charging has already been implemented that there has been increased evidence of dumping. In addition, a comprehensive pay-by- weight awareness campaign is currently being rolled out, which includes practical advice for householders on reducing and segregating their waste and thereby minimising their costs.
Notwithstanding the above, and while enforcement action against illegal waste activity, including dumping, is a matter for the local authorities or the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as appropriate, my Department has introduced a number of measures to strengthen our efforts to combat illegal waste activity generally.
Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs) have been established in each of the three existing waste regions with responsibility for coordinating waste enforcement actions and ensuring consistent enforcement of waste legislation while still leaving local authority personnel as first responders on the ground to specific breaches of waste legislation. This will facilitate a transformation from process driven enforcement, structured around separate implementation of individual regulations, to one that focuses greatest effort on the waste problems and issues that matter most and to take swift, proportionate and effective action. The work of the WERLAs is being supported by continued funding provided by my Department for the local authority waste enforcement network.
Some €8.2 million is being provided in 2016 for the retention by local authorities of 155 specialised waste enforcement officers, critical to tackling issues such as illegal dumping in local communities and in providing an enhanced response on the ground to infractions of the waste code.
It should also be noted that, under the new pay-by-weight regulatory regime, local authorities will be establishing a register which records the details of households which are using the services of an authorised waste operator (whether a kerbside collector, pay to use compactor or civic amenity facility). In gathering these details from service providers, local authorities may use this information to target households which appear not to be managing their waste correctly or using the services of an authorised operator and these data will support a number of awareness, education and enforcement programmes already initiated by individual local authorities.
Furthermore, fixed penalty notices (or on-the-spot fines) can also be issued from 1 July 2016 in respect of non-compliant waste collectors or service providers for breaches of their waste collection permit conditions.
110. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if he is aware of the burden the introduction of the pay-by-weight bin charges will have on small providers in particular; if he will implement measures to mitigate the impact of the charges system on smaller waste collection providers; and if he will allow a phased introduction of the charges over a longer timeframe by local authorities in certain circumstances such as in areas with a lower population density. [11001/16]
View answer111. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government if his Department or any body under its aegis has assessed the impact of the introduction of new pay-by-weight bin charges on smaller waste collection providers; if he is concerned that their introduction in July 2016 will impose an excessive burden on smaller waste collectors in rural and lower density areas and potentially have a significant effect on the waste collection market leading to a concentration of large providers; the cost of implementing the charges, by lorry; and the cost differential of implementing the new system in urban areas in comparison to rural areas. [11002/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together.
The Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) on the collection of household waste carried out in 2012 analysed in depth the household waste collection market and gave a comprehensive overview of the market structure and industry in Ireland.
It recognised that concentration had occurred in the market, as larger firms expanded, in part by acquiring smaller firms, and as local authorities withdrew from the national market. The RIA further noted that, as the household waste collection market develops, consolidation is likely over the medium to long term, in which a small number of vertically integrated waste collection firms may capture more of the national market.
In terms of costs to collectors, the exact costs of servicing any given householder will differ considerably due to a number of variables, including the demographic and geographic nature of the local market, shift patterns, the frequency of the service, the degree of segregated collection, and, in many cases, the degree to which a collection route serves both household and commercial waste.
In terms of moving to pay-by-weight, the RIA also highlighted that a transition to weight-based charging on a national basis could be achieved relatively cheaply, in view of the potential benefits. The necessary capital investment primarily involves fitting transponders to individual bins, and equipping refuse collection vehicles with data readers and weighing equipment. Costs in relation to transponders set out in the RIA were understood to be approximately €2.50 per unit, and approximately €3.00 installation cost per unit. Equipping a refuse collection vehicle with the necessary data reader and weighing equipment is understood to cost approximately €30,000 per vehicle or approximately 10% of the capital cost of the vehicle. Annual repair and maintenance costs are understood to be of the order of 7% of the initial investment, e.g. €2,100 per refuse collection vehicle.
The Waste Management (Waste Collection Permit) Regulations 2007, as amended, have required, since 1 July 2015, that vehicles collecting household waste in reusable receptacles (such as wheelie bins) weigh the waste collected and to make this information available to the householder at least once per month.
