Michael Joe Cosgrave
Ceist:32 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Defence his approach to the staffing issues in relation to teachers in the apprentice schools. [26772/98]
Written Answers. - Army Apprentice Schools.
Jack Wall
Ceist:39 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the position of the 28 apprentices recently relocated to the Curragh; if he has satisfied himself that their training programme is running satisfactorily; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26825/98]
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:55 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Defence the number of apprentices sitting for city and guild exams in December 1998 as part of their training. [26832/98]
Emmet Stagg
Ceist:63 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Defence the position of teachers previously employed at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare; if these teachers have taken up their positions at the Curragh Camp; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26824/98]
Michael Finucane
Ceist:78 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Defence the plans, if any, made for accommodating apprentices who were formerly studying in Naas, County Kildare, who must move to the Curragh; and the impact on the Defence Forces specialist staff who are working in the Curragh already. [22745/98]
Willie Penrose
Ceist:107 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence if 28 apprentices are losing a full year of their apprenticeship due to difficulties being experienced in moving to the Curragh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26834/98]
Willie Penrose
Ceist:117 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Defence if the 28 apprentices on the Curragh, County Kildare, have no work programme or job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26835/98]
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:150 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence his approach to the staffing issues in relation to teachers in the apprentice schools. [26937/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:161 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the current use of Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, the closure of which was announced in July 1998; the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the personnel formerly deployed there, both civil and military; the outcome, if any, from these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27047/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:163 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the discussions, if any, his Department had with military and civil authorities at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, prior to his announcement of its closure; if he or others entered into any commitments regarding future career prospects in respect of either the military or civil personnel; the position in relation to any commitments or indications; if the respective personnel have indicated satisfaction with the position; if so, the reasons in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27049/98]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:165 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which teaching facilities are now available for the former students of the Army apprenticeship school at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare; if he has satisfied himself that the facilities available to these students are comparable to those previously available at Devoy Barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27051/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 39, 55, 63, 78, 107, 117, 150, 161, 163 and 165 together.
The apprentice school came into operation in 1956 at a time when there was no formal training for apprentices available elsewhere. At the height of its operations up to 60 apprentices were recruited each year with each apprentice spending three years in the school resulting in the school accommodating up to 180 apprentices.
In recent years the need to recruit apprentices for the Defence Forces has reduced considerably and it is not anticipated that there will be any major change in this regard. At present there are only 28 apprentices in the school. Because of the high fixed overhead associated with the school, the cost soared to £100,000 per pupil per year. This was clearly unsustainable.
It is the intention to complete the training of the existing 28 apprentices. The apprentices have already been accommodated at the Curragh Camp. The carpenter, electrician and motor mechanic apprentices are undergoing on the job training which is part of their normal training programme in accordance with the FÁS syllabus. The communication information services technicians are receiving technical training and are also undergoing military training.
Of the staff of approximately 70, all have been redeployed to the Curragh except for the ten civilian teachers. A number of meetings have been held involving the teachers, their union the TUI, their employer the Kildare VEC and the Department of Defence and Education and Science. Negotiations are addressing the completion of the classroom and workshop training of the apprentices and the future of the teachers.
Military personnel previously based in Devoy Barracks, Naas have already relocated to the Curragh Camp, and some of these personnel continue to be involved in the training of the apprentices. Devoy Barracks has been fully evacuated and the buildings have been secured. A substantial programme of improvements to the apprentices' living accommodation has been completed in the Curragh Camp. A further programme of building work will be undertaken in the coming months to develop workshops and technical training facilities.