Vol. 508 No. 1
904 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make finance available for the provision of a sports hall for Loreto convent secondary school, County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18025/99]
An application for a PE hall has been received from Loreto secondary school, Kilkenny.
It is my Department's policy to provide PE halls at all post-primary schools which do not already have access to such a facility.
Officials from the planning and building unit will contact Loreto secondary school, Kilkenny in the near future in order to progress the application.
905 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Education and Science the position regarding Wood School, Ardara, County Donegal. [18026/99]
The current position regarding the construction of the proposed new primary school at Wood, Ardara, County Donegal is that the tender documentation is currently being finalised. A decision on tender invitation will be taken when this process has been completed satisfactorily.
The standards-based apprenticeship system was introduced in 1993, following extensive consultation between the social partners and other interested parties. It replaced the old time-served model and is based on the attainment by apprentices of industry-agreed standards. The standards-based system covers 26 designated trades.
Information in relation to the numbers entering and completing the system is held by FÁS. There has been an unprecedented increase in the number of apprentices registered with FÁS in recent years.
The exceptional level of recruitment of apprentices by employers has placed strenuous demands on off-the-job training facilities in the institutes of technology throughout the country. This has resulted in some delays in apprentices being offered off-the-job training places under phases 4 and 6 of their apprenticeships.
The Department of Education and Science has responded to the increased numbers by increasing the number of places available in institutes of technology. In 1992-2000, the number of apprenticeship places in the institutes for phases 4 and 6 has been increased from 5,436 to 7,120 places. The Department is in contact with the institutes with a view to further increases in this provision.
