Vol. 495 No. 1
395 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to use some or all of the lands at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, which are owned by the Department of Defence and zoned for education by Naas Urban District Council for educational facilities at either first, second or third level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19285/98]
396 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Department of Defence recently closed down a school in Naas, County Kildare, which had long experience in the field of apprentice education, together with the facilities and teaching staff, and which with very minor modifications could cater for approximately 600 apprentices per year under the 11 week courses for phase 4 and phase 6 under the new syllabus being jointly implemented by his Department and FÁS; if so, the discussions, if any, he or his officials have had with the Department of Defence or his officials regarding the best use of this valuable institution which is still in public ownership; the decisions, if any, reached as a result of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19286/98]
397 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to overcome the present shortage of places on obligatory courses for apprentices registered with FÁS under the new apprenticeship scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19287/98]
402 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to purchase the Devoy Barracks site at Naas, County Kildare, for use as an educational institute. [19352/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396, 397 and 402 together.
As soon as I became aware of the proposed closure of Devoy Barracks, Naas, arrangements were made with the Department of Defence for the property to be inspected by senior staff of the planning and building unit of my Department, in the context of accommodation for apprenticeship education. Arrangements were also made for the property to be inspected by a firm of architects. Following these inspections it was decided that the barracks did not provide an appropriate environment or meet the needs of the new modules for the education and training of apprentices. There are no plans in my Department at present to use any or all of Devoy Barracks for either first, second or third level education facilities.
During the period January to June 1998, extensive consultations took place between my Department and FÁS in relation to the projected demand for apprentice places. As a result a number of new building projects were approved for the IT sector which would facilitate an increase in the intake of apprentices to the institutes of technology nationally. To further meet the growing demand for additional apprentice education training places, particularly in the Dublin and Cork regions, a broad range of accommodation options are at present being considered in the context of suitability and value for money criteria.
In addition, my Department is providing additional funding to meet the staffing and other running costs associated with the increased apprentice intake in the current academic year. Furthermore, my Department is engaged in ongoing discussions with all the relevant parties regarding the resource requirement for the projected increases in the 1999-2000 academic year and thereafter.
