Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

[Deputy Ruairí Quinn.]
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
the minimum duration for off-the-job training and assessment with FÁS approved employers
for Phase 3, Phase 5 and Phase 7 of the standard based apprenticeship programme.
I am informed that the person in question has currently completed 62 weeks of his apprenticeship
only 5 of which were in unsupported employment. He completed his Phase 2 off-thejob
training with FÁS from 11th May to 25th September 2009. He then completed his Phase 4
off-the-job training in DIT from 4th January to 18th March 2011.
Subsequently, the person in question participated in the Redundant Apprentice Placement
Scheme (RAPS) from the 9th May to 14th November 2011, which allowed him to complete
Phase 3 on-the-job training of his apprenticeship. He is currently scheduled to commence his
Phase 6 off-the-job training in April 2012.
If he successfully completes his Phase 6 off-the-job training he will then be eligible to complete
his Phase 5 and Phase 7 on-the-job training phases by re-engaging with the Redundant
Apprentice Placement Scheme.
The RAPS interventions will not complete the person in question’s apprenticeship, as he will
still be a number of weeks short of the mandatory 208 weeks required to complete his apprenticeship.
However FÁS has recently introduced a new Competency Determination Mechanism where
apprentices undertake to complete a competence assessment. If eligible apprentices successfully
complete this assessment they will be deemed to have completed their apprenticeship. At the
appropriate juncture the person in question may also be offered the opportunity to avail of
this intervention.
Schools Building Projects
245. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will arrange
a meeting between representatives of the board of management of a school (details supplied)
in County Kildare and appropriate officials in the primary planning and building unit of his
Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8194/12]
Minister for Education and Skills (Deputy Ruairí Quinn): My officials in the Department’s
Planning and Building Unit have no record of receiving a request for a meeting from the school
referred to by the Deputy. It is open to the school authority to make direct contact with my
officials relating to any accommodation issues it may have.
Departmental Funding
246. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will outline
the total adult and further education budget per vocational education committee for 2011; and
if he will make a statement on the matter. [8199/12]
Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Ciarán Cannon): In
2011, my Department provided funding of nearly €420 million for further education programmes
delivered by Vocational Education Committees (VECs). This covered the pay of staff,
non-pay capitation, participant allowances and student support for learners in Post Leaving
Certificate (PLC) courses.
Funding for the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, Youthreach, Senior Traveller
Training Centres, the Back to Education Initiative, Adult Literacy and Community Education,
the Adult Education Guidance Initiative and a range of other smaller programmes is totalled,
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