Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 22 April 2009
152 Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of people in Cork city and county who have received an offer of training from FÁS each month to date in 2009 under the national employment action plan; the number waiting in Cork City and County for an offer of this training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15410/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Employment Action Plan Preventive Strategy (NEAP) involves a systematic referral of certain cohorts of registered unemployed persons by the Department of Social and Family Affairs (DSFA) to FÁS for assistance.
Department of Social and Family Affairs NEAP (National Employment Action Plan) referrals to FÁS Employment Services, Cork, in the first three months of 2009 totalled approximately 1,800 clients, of which 900 expressed an interest in availing of training.
In the first quarter of 2009, 711 of NEAP clients received an offer of training. A breakdown of these is provided in the following table. The remaining 189 NEAP clients, primarily from guidance interviews in March 2009 are scheduled to receive offers of training over the next four weeks.
|
Month 2009 |
Full Time Training |
Evening/Saturday Morning Courses (estimate) |
Technical Employment Support Grant Funded Training |
|
January |
163 |
56 |
46 |
|
February |
135 |
— |
54 |
|
March |
147 |
32 |
78 |
|
Total |
445 |
88 |
178 |
|
Overall Total |
711 |
153 Deputy Leo Varadkar asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the efforts she will make to ensure that apprentices at a company (details supplied) can finish their apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15452/09]
Amharc ar fhreagraA total of 60 apprentices will be affected by redundancy at the company referred to by the Deputy. This total includes 54 aircraft mechanics apprentices and six mechanical, automation and maintenance fitting (fitters) apprentices. The apprentices break down into three categories as outlined below:
Group 1 — 28 air craft mechanics apprentices at phase 3 of their apprenticeship
Group 2 — 26 air craft mechanics apprentices at phase 4 of their apprenticeship
Group 3 — 6 mechanical automation and maintenance fitting (fitters) apprentices at phase 3 of their apprenticeship FÁS has put in place appropriate measures to assist each of these groups in progressing their apprenticeships. These measures are outlined as follows.
Group 1: 28 air craft mechanics apprentices at phase 3
The 28 air craft mechanics apprentices at phase 3 who have been made redundant by the company in question have been scheduled to attend an additional phase 4 programme provided by DIT with the support of the HEA commencing on 20 April 2009.
Group 2: 26 air craft mechanics apprentices at phase 4
This group of apprentices completed their phase 4 off-the-job training on 20 February 2009. Their phase 5 on-the-job training commenced on 23 February, 2009 and is for a period of 52 weeks. The company in question have advised FÁS that this group will be made redundant on 17 April 2009.
It will be necessary for this group to complete phase 5 on-the-job training prior to the commencement of the phase 6 off-the-the-job training. This is due to the essential regulatory requirements for health and safety and the need for the apprentices to practice the skills developed at phase 4.
FÁS is currently engaging with other stakeholders in the Air Craft Maintenance sector in an effort to source on-the-job training for this group of Air Craft Mechanics. This group, on completion of phase 5 on-the-job, will be scheduled for their phase 6 off-the-job training in February 2010.
Group 3: 6 mechanical automation and maintenance fitting (fitters) apprentices at phase 3
This group of apprentices is expected to be called for phase 4 off-the-job training in either in September 2009 or January 2010 depending on capacity availability.
