James Leonard
Ceist:279 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment the plans, if any, he has to improve the intake of apprentices in view of the shortage of skilled tradesmen in the construction industry. [13630/96]
Written Answers. - Apprentices Numbers.
The question of increasing the overall numbers entering apprenticeships was addressed earlier this year by a working group of the Central Review Committee, CRC. In these discussions, the reduction of the apprentice population in the construction industry in recent years was considered, as was the possible connection between this reduction and the recent structural changes in the industry where an increasing proportion of construction activity is carried out by sub-contractors. It was noted that Clause 10 of the Registered Employment Agreement for the Construction Industry, which deals with sub-contracting, is currently being renegotiated, with discussions at an advanced stage. It is possible that the new clause could contain a statement regarding the obligations of sub-contractors for the recruitment and training of apprentices. If agreed, the new clause could have the effect of increasing the intake of apprentices by construction sub-contractors. Furthermore, as a result of the CRC discussions, FÁS in a series of ongoing meetings with the Construction Industry Federation, CIF, has agreed an approach to the intake of apprentices into the construction trades and in particular has focused on those trades which are currently most at risk to shortage of skilled craftspersons, such as bricklaying, plastering and painting/ decorating. FÁS and the CIF are jointly developing promotional materials specifically for these trades aimed both at prospective apprentices, to encourage them to consider these trades as career options, and at employers to urge them to examine their human resource requirements and to recruit sufficient apprentice numbers to meet their future demands for qualified craftspersons. These materials will shortly form the basis of a promotional campaign in the run-up to the main apprentice recruitment period in the last quarter of this year.