Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 6 Nov 1997

Vol. 482 No. 5

Written Answers - Registered Apprentices.

Jack Wall

Ceist:

42 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people registered with FÁS who have completed their apprenticeships for each of the years from 1994 to date in 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18365/97]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

62 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of apprentices registered with FÁS as first year apprentices for each of the years from 1994 to date in 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18366/97]

Willie Penrose

Ceist:

63 Mr. Penrose asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment whether she will undertake a comprehensive review of the apprenticeship system in view of the shortage of tradesmen in the construction and industrial sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18364/97]

Jack Wall

Ceist:

84 Mr. Wall asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of apprentices registered with FÁS as first year apprentices in each of the years from 1994 to 1997; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18343/97]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Miss Harney)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 42, 62, 63 and 84 together.

The statistical information in relation to the number of first year apprentices registered with FÁS and the number who have completed their course in the years 1994-97 is contained in the following tabular statement.

I am aware that a number of backlogs have arisen in apprenticeship areas due, initially, to industrial action in FÁS and, subsequently, to increased demand for particular apprenticeships. Action to address the backlog is well in hand, and additional staff are being used to address the shortage in the trades of electrician, construction plant fitter, agricultural mechanic and carpentry and joinery.

On the question of the current shortage of craftpersons in certain trade categories it is generally recognised that such shortages result from the high level of economic activity at present in industry, particularly the construction industry, coupled with insufficient recruitment of apprentices by employers in 1993 and earlier years.

The cyclical nature of the construction industry, in particular, leads to wide variations in the annual intake of construction apprentices and this, coupled with the four year lead-time of apprentice training, has contributed to periods of shortage or over-supply of craftpersons in construction.

Following is the statement:

The number of people registered with FÁS as first year apprentices in each of the years 1994 to 1997 is as follows:

	Time-Served Apprentices	Standards-Based Apprentices	Total
1994	2,098	1,192	3,290
1995	1,383	1,908	3,291
1996	225	4,206	4,431
1997 to end Sept.	68	3,494	3,562

The number of people registered with FÁS who have completed their apprenticeships for each of the years 1994 to 1997, to date, is as follows: 1994 — 3,437; 1995 — 3,511; 1996 — 3,008; 1997 — 1,803 (estimate to end September 1997).

There were no standards-based apprenticeships completed in the above period.