Emmet Stagg
Ceist:69 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Defence the position of the teaching staff formerly employed at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare. [5009/99]
Written Answers. - Army Apprenticeship School.
Enda Kenny
Ceist:75 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself in relation to the treatment of apprentices affected by the move of the apprenticeship school to the Curragh; if those apprentices are now behind in both their technical and military training; the action, if any, he will take to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4910/99]
Jack Wall
Ceist:80 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Defence the position of the 28 apprentices formerly attached to Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare; and if he has satisfied himself that their training is adequate and they have not lost any of their time due to the recent changeover. [5008/99]
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:204 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself in relation to the treatment of apprentices affected by the move of the apprenticeship school to the Curragh; if those apprentices are now behind in both their technical and military training; the action, if any, he will take to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4946/99]
Frances Fitzgerald
Ceist:216 Ms Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Defence the current situation regarding the transfer of the apprenticeship school to the Curragh; if the dispute between teachers who are civilians in his Department has been resolved; and the situation regarding the apprentices involved. [5168/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:224 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the discussions, if any, he has had with the former teaching staff at the Army apprenticeship school at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, with particular reference to their future careers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5269/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:225 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the extent, if any, to which discussions have taken place between his Department and the Department of Education and Science regarding the future careers of the teaching staff of the Army apprenticeship school at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5270/99]
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:230 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the students transferred from the Army apprenticeship school at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare to the Curragh in July 1998 with particular reference to their ongoing apprenticeship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5275/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 75, 80, 204, 216, 224, 225 and 230 together.
There were 28 apprentices at the Army apprentice school in Devoy Barracks prior to the closure of that barracks. Of these, 18 are now attending the Dublin Institute of Technology, either at Bolton Street or at Kevin Street for the purpose of completing their final 'off job' training module. This module consists of ten weeks. These 18 apprentices are variously training as fitters, carpenters and electricians. They commenced their attendance at Dublin Institute of Technology in late January.
The remaining ten apprentices, who are training in electronics/communications, have relocated to the school of signals on the Curragh. Their training will be continuing into the middle of the year 2000.
Since the closure of Devoy Barracks, the various apprentices have been either engaged with "on the job" aspects of their apprenticeship training or military training. The training schedules of the majority of the apprentices were not materially affected by the closure of Devoy Barracks, in relation to either their core military or "trade" training.
Discussions are taking place between the Department of Education and Science, my own Department and the Teachers Union of Ireland in relation to the future of the teachers formerly employed at the Army apprentice school. These discussions centre on the possible redeployment of the teachers within the educational system and on an early retirement package. As these discussions are ongoing, it would be wrong of me to comment further on the matter.