asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of press reports of a meeting in the College of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin on 14 February 1978, when severe criticism of AnCO's apprentice training scheme were expressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Apprentice Training Scheme.
29.
I have seen the press reports referred to.
The criticism mentioned in these reports does not give the full facts and does not take account of the very full consideration given to the changes in the apprenticeships system before they were introduced. The electrical apprentices in AnCO's Cabra training centre are receiving almost three times as much formal instruction off-the-job under the new scheme as they were receiving under the old system and they should benefit appreciably from this.
Will the Minister inform the House why there is such an enormous reduction in the training hours? How is it better if the hours are one-third of what they used to be?
The newspaper cutting reported the meeting to which the Deputy refers. It stated that they were expected to sit their junior trade examination after a course lasting 275 hours compared to 650 hours under the old system. What was neglected to be said is that under the old system an apprentice received off-the-job training in a VEC during the first two years of apprenticeship amounting to 11 weeks each year, totalling 660 hours. After 660 hours formal instruction he then took his junior trade certificate. Under the new apprenticeship system, which applies to 12 boys in Cabra, an apprentice receives 46 weeks off-the-job formal instruction in his first year as follows. In an AnCO centre he has 36 four-day weeks of eight-hour days, totalling 1,152 hours; ten weeks of five-day eight-hour days; and, in addition, in Kevin Street he has 25 weeks of 11 hours, which is the 275 hours referred to in the reply. He has a total of 1,827 hours of formal off-the-job instruction now.
In view of the expressed dissatisfaction will the Minister examine the matter to see if there is any ground for the dissatisfaction and let me know the result?
I will certainly do that.
The remaining questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.