Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
615. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if there is any assistance that can be given to people who wish to apply for apprenticeships but have been diagnosed in the past as colour blind; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49526/23]
View answerCurrently, there are 73 national apprenticeship programmes available in Ireland. Of these, 58 have no qualifying criteria associated in regards to colour blindness. More generally, to support apprentices, information is sought at the point of registration on any additional supports that may be needed due to a disability. Education and training providers offer learning and other supports to apprentices during their training and many employers also provide accommodations in the workplace to apprentices with disabilities. Approximately 3% of the apprentice population have declared one or more disabilities, and are receiving additional supports. A majority of these identified themselves as having dyslexia or other disabilities related to learning.
However, for a small number of professions, trichromacy (i.e. normal colour vision) is an important ability to possess, on the grounds of safety. For our apprenticeships, this impacts on the participation requirements for 15 programmes. Specifically, for these programmes apprenticeship applicants must pass the Ishihara colour vision test without the use of corrective lenses.
The list of apprenticeships that this requirement applies to is set out below.
• Aircraft Mechanics
• Electrical
• Electrical Instrumentation
• Instrumentation
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
• Electronic Security Systems
• Floor and Wall Tiling
• Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) Engineer
• Painting and Decorating
• Agricultural Mechanics
• Construction Plant Fitting
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
• Vehicle Body Repairs
• Motor Mechanics
• Plumbing
SOLAS are continually reviewing the existing apprenticeship programmes and the matter of colour vision testing will be included in this process.
