Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:183 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Education if she will reconsider the retention of a particular apprenticeship course (details supplied) at the proposed new vocational education committee college in Cork. [19220/96]
Written Answers. - Apprenticeship Course.
Under Programme for Economic and Social Progress and the Programme for a Partnership (PPG) Government 1993-97 it was agreed that the statutory apprenticeship scheme would be improved by developing a “standards-based” rather than a “time-served” approach. A new apprenticeship training model, comprising of four on-the-job training modules and three off-the-job training modules, was developed.
An interdepartmental working group representative of the Department of Enterprise and Employment, FÁS, the regional technical colleges/DIT and the Department of Education agreed on the basic operational principles underlying the arrangements between FÁS and the colleges for the delivery of the off-the-job training of apprentices.
In general the first off-the-job training module will take place in FÁS training centres and the second and final off-the-job training modules will take place in regional technical college/DIT institutions. The new apprenticeship system is being implemented on a phased basis and will result in the rationalisation of craft apprenticeship programmes.
When the new system is fully operational and the traditional day and block release courses are phased out, some colleges involved in the delivery of day release motor apprentice programmes will no longer be required to be providers of such programmes. These colleges, including the college referred to by the Deputy, have been notified of this situation.
However, as a result of representations made to me by the college management and members of the local motor industry I have arranged that the situation will be kept under review in the light of recruitment patterns in the motor apprenticeship area.