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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 1 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 2

Written Answers. - Army Apprenticeship School.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

59 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Defence if he has satisfied himself that there has been justice in the approach to apprentices affected by the move of the apprenticeship school to the Curragh; if these 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. [9292/99]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

155 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence if the teaching and instruction facilities previously available to apprentices at Devoy Barracks, Naas, County Kildare, are being made available to these apprentices at present in the Curragh; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9528/99]

Bernard J. Durkan

Ceist:

156 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which the apprenticeship needs of the Permanent Defence Forces will be met in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9529/99]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 155 and 156 together.

There were 28 apprentices at the Army Apprentice School in Devoy Barracks prior to the closure of that barracks. Of these, 18 attended the Dublin Institute of Technology, either at Bolton Street or at Kevin Street, for the purpose of completing their final "off job" training module, which module consisted 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 and completed it recently.

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 2001.

It is envisaged that, in future, Army apprentices will attend at FÁS and/or regional technical college courses for their formal "off the job" training. This is already the long established situation with Naval Service apprentices. The apprenticeship needs of the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps are kept under regular review. Apprentices will continue to be recruited for specific trades and crafts, as and when required, in response to identified service needs.

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