Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Mar 1999

Vol. 502 No. 3

Written Answers. - Apprenticeship System.

Noel Ahern

Ceist:

113 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to outline the cost, if any, to an employer of taking on an apprentice tradesperson; the periods when the apprentice is in the classroom environment; if the employer pays the apprentice during this period; her views on the reluctance of many employers to take an apprentice, particularly in year one, as they are perceived to be of no value to them and not on site for much of the year. [8197/99]

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

The current standards-based apprenticeship system was introduced in 1993 as a result of social partner negotiations under the Programme for Economic and Social Progress. The system comprises seven phases, alternating between four on-the-job and three off-the-job phases.

Employers are responsible for recruiting apprentices, who are regarded as employees of the recruiting firm. Apprentices are paid industry-agreed apprenticeship rates which vary from industry to industry.

There are no registration costs for an employer taking on an apprentice. During the on-the-job phases of training, the employer pays the apprenticeship allowance. The employer is also responsible for any other associated employment costs, including employer's PRSI liability. The employer may, in addition, provide the apprentice with any tools required.

Off-the-job training is carried out on phases 2, 4 and 6 of the apprenticeship. Phase 2 training is carried out in FÁS training centres; phases 4 and 6 are carried out in institutes of technology or Department of Education colleges. Off-the-job training is generally of 40 weeks total duration, divided as follows: phase 2: 20 weeks; phase 4: ten weeks, and phase 6: ten weeks. During these modules, in most cases, the apprentice remains an employee of his or her employer, but is paid by FÁS. The payment of the apprenticeship allowance by FÁS during these phases represents a substantial saving to the employer in terms of wages and overheads.

At the beginning of March 1999, 17,914 apprentices were registered with FÁS compared to 13,978 at the end of December 1997. This represents an increase of 3,936, 28 per cent, in 15 months and is illustrative of an upward trend since 1996 in the number of apprentices being registered. Bearing in mind that employers are responsible for recruiting and registering apprentices, there is no evidence of reluctance on the part of employers, in general, to take on apprentices.