asked the Minister for Labour if there is any independent periodic assessment made of the training carried out by AnCO; and, if not, if it is proposed to carry out such assessments.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO Training.
23.
While there are no formal arrangements for independent periodic assessments of the training carried out by AnCO, such assessments have recently been made by the OECD and by a group of experts appointed by the EEC. Pending completion of a cost/benefit study of its adult training programme being conducted by AnCO under the supervision of a steering committee on which the Department of Finance and my Department are represented, I have no plans for a further independent assessment.
Again may I ask the Minister for Labour through the Minister for Local Government, is he aware that the AnCO training programme provides only ten-week courses? Where people for one reason or another have had their apprenticeship courses terminated all AnCO can offer is a ten-week training programme. All I am asking is, does the Minister think that is sufficient? People who considered that they were not properly trained have asked for further courses and AnCO say that there is only a ten-week training course, which they can repeat. This is far from adequate for people who have had their training course terminated.
This is a long question.
I would ask if consideration would be given to a searching examination of the training programmes they carry out and, to ensure that they will be good training courses, that independent periodic assessments of them be undertaken?
I see the point the Deputy is making. The only thing wrong with it is that lengthening the training course would automatically reduce the number who could be trained. That is why the cost/benefit analysis is referred to. Perhaps when it is available it may be decided to make some alteration.