Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 26 Oct 1994

Vol. 446 No. 4

Written Answers. - Apprentice Intake.

Michael Bell

Ceist:

58 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the number of apprentices registered with FÁS for each of the past ten years; his views on whether the reduction of the intake in apprentices by industry has reached a serious situation; the plans, if any, he has to rectify this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [189/94]

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. Quinn)

Details of the number of apprentices registered with FÁS each year over the past ten years is set out in a table which I propose to circulate in the Official Report.

The figures show that the intake of apprentices had fluctuated year by year with two peaks of over 4,000 occurring in 1984 and 1990. Many factors affect the intake of apprentices, including: the general level of economic activity; the level of business confidence at any given time; changes in the technologies employed by industry; alternative means of supplying the skill needs of industry (such as technician programmes).

Number of apprentices registered with FÁS.

1984	4,124
1985	3,296
1986	3,666
1987	3,206
1988	3,295
1989	3,946
1990	4,088
1991	3,594
1992	3,059

* Complete data in respect of 1993 is not yet available due to late registration of apprentices by employers but indications are that the 1993 intake figure is around 3,000.

Such factors, coupled with the lead time of apprentice training creates considerable difficulty in matching the supply of and demand for apprenticeships, but there is concern that adequate numbers of apprentices should be recruited in each year in order to avoid skill shortages in the labour market at a later stage.

There is commitment to a process of improving the matching of supply and demand for apprentices, as agreed in theProgramme for Economic and Social Progress and Programme for Competitiveness and Work, and the national apprenticeship advisory committee (set up to oversee the implementation of the new standards-based apprenticeship) is at present examining this issue. In the meantime, all designated apprenticeships are being actively promoted by FÁS and I would again call on employers as I have done on many previous occasions to focus not just on their immediate needs but to take account of future needs in deciding on their apprenticeship recruitment levels.