Vol. 473 No. 5
1 Mr. Martin asked the Minister for Education if the training of motor apprentices at Davis College, Mallow, County Cork will continue and if its status as a senior centre for motor apprentices education will be retained; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1929/97]
The County Cork Vocational Education Committee has been providing very effective day release courses for motor car engineering apprentices in its second level school, Davis College, in Mallow for many years. In any year a total of 50 motor apprentices attend classes on a day release basis.
Under the new "standards-based" apprenticeship system, being implemented on a phased basis, all day release courses will be discontinued and will be replaced by block release courses.
The Deputy will be aware that, under PESP and the Programme for a Partnership 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, comprised of four on-the-job training modules and three off-the-job training modules, was developed by FÁS in consultation with the social partners.
When the new system is fully operational and the traditional day and block release courses are fully phased out, some regional technical colleges and vocational schools which have been involved in the delivery of day release motor apprentice programmes will no longer be required to be providers of such programmes. The management authorities of these colleges and schools, including that of Davis College, have been notified of this situation.
However, as a result of representations made to me by the college management and members of the motor industry in the Mallow area, I have arranged that the situation will be kept under review in the light of recruitment patterns in the motor apprenticeship area.
The Minister's response has been extremely disappointing, especially in the case of this college/centre which has been providing excellent apprentice education since 1967 and which has achieved high standards of excellence. Given the needs of industry in the north Cork/Limerick area, would the Minister reconsider the position and give a commitment to retain this college as a senior centre for motor apprentices? Does she agree that, in line with the request of the board of management, she should designate that college as one of the national centres for the delivery of phases 2-4 of the new standard-based apprenticeship scheme? Despite this welcome new scheme, in itself, that is insufficient justification for dismissing the position at Mallow or for bringing to an end a historic commitment on the part of County Cork vocational education committee and the college in Mallow in providing this very valuable apprentice training. The introduction of a new based system should not in any way necessitate the demise of training at Mallow. I ask the Minister to urgently reconsider the matter and meet the cross-party consensus which has emerged from the north Cork area in terms of the retention of Davis College as a national motor apprentice college.
I would not want any criticism of the excellent day release courses that have been, and continue to be, conducted at Davis College ascribed to me. While pleased that Deputy Martin has welcomed the change of emphasis and the arrangements for apprenticeship now in place, the phasing out of the day courses will result in a different, one-day-a-week approach, very different from arranging a block release. On the basis of the analysis undertaken by FÁS and my Department it was estimated that eight colleges would be required to meet the training demand for motor apprentices — the Dublin Institute of Technology in Bolton Street, the regional technical colleges in Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Galway, Sligo, Dundalk and Athlone. These were the courses and areas designated on the basis of the suggested recruitment patterns for motor apprentices, which areas would be required to cater for a one block release course per term. While there had been a number of other colleges and schools delivering this facility, following representations made to me by local public representatives and interests, led by Deputy Mulvihill, we are reviewing the position this year. In the event of the existing designated centres being unable to cater for the training needs of motor apprentices——
The Minister is on the wrong side of them.
——the matter of designating Davis College as a block release centre will be considered. When we note the success of the motor scrappage scheme introduced by the Minister for Finance, the number of new cars, the maintenance and testing of cars, perhaps the numbers forecast at the time were somewhat low. In line with the combined lobbying of local public representatives, this excellent college and the motor industry, I have already said the matter will be reviewed this year.
There is not much sense to the proposal unless the Minister will provide the requisite money for the new schools.
The only merit of the Minister's reply to the effect that she will keep the matter under review was merely to offer hope. I do not really believe there are any long-term implications. I would much prefer had the Minister said she would retain Davis College in Mallow as a centre for motor apprentice training. In the course of the consideration undertaken, Davis College in Mallow should be included in the list of colleges given its record, standard of excellence and partnership. Will the Minister meet a delegation from the Mallow area to discuss this issue since representatives of the TUI, the college concerned and local interests have sought a meeting with her since August last but none has yet taken place? Surely they deserve that much because of the long tradition and standard of excellence there. Indeed, if we are committed to rural development, why is it constantly proposed to centralise valuable resources like these in highly populated areas?
Members must not forget the time factor in dealing with questions nominated for priority and that we cannot remain unduly long on any one question.
Within the context of rural renewal, in terms of integrated policy, does the Minister agree that the retention of Davis College would be of enormous value to the Mallow area?
Prior to the tabling of this question, we had already given a commitment to review the training needs of the actual number of motor apprentices in the course of this year. We are reforming the apprenticeship system, which has served us well, in line with the express wishes of the social partners, my Department, trainees and those in the motor industry who have agreed that apprenticeship for the motor industry be developed and delivered in a new way. FÁS has been given the responsibility of developing a new system and an apprenticeship committee established by FÁS and representatives of all the social partners are overseeing its implementation. I have given them the task of reviewing the number of places and have designated eight specific colleges within the Dublin Institute of Technology/RTC sector but, given the boom in the motor industry and the success of the scrappage scheme, if the existing designated centres are unable to cater for the relevant training needs, this matter will be kept under constant review. Perhaps the number of places advocated at that stage was lower than may be required. The expert group, comprised of all relevant interests, will complete their review in the course of this year and submit their recommendations.
