Tánaiste Announces Government support for Redundant Apprentices

FÁS to introduce new Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation Scheme

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Mary Coughlan TD, announced today (Monday 29^th December 2008) that FÁS is to implement an Employer Based Redundant Apprentice Rotation scheme in January 2009. Employers who have a past record of providing consistent systematic training will be asked to provide redundant apprentices with an opportunity to complete their on-the-job phase in the following trades:

• Carpentry & Joinery

• Electrical

• Plastering

• Plumbing

• Bricklaying

Making the announcement the Tánaiste said: “The purpose of the scheme is to give redundant apprentices the opportunity to complete the on-the-job phase of their apprenticeship in order to gain the required knowledge, skill and competence to successfully progress to the next off-the-job phase or to complete their apprenticeship”.

The scheme will support redundant apprentices on-the-job training related to Phase 3, Phase 5 & Phase 7. Redundant apprentices will also be scheduled to the off-the-job Phases 2, Phase 4 & Phase 6 in accordance with scheduling criteria.

FÁS with the support of employers will place redundant apprentices with an eligible employer, to replace any existing apprentices that have been released to attend scheduled off-the-job phase of their apprenticeship. The employer will provide workplace training and assessment for full or part of the relevant phase of apprenticeship”.

The Tánaiste said “Employers participating in the scheme are required to pay the apprentice the agreed industry rates for the specific apprenticeship trade and FÁS will make a contribution of €340 per week towards employment costs incurred based on a 39 hour working week. The total cost of this scheme will be in the order of €4.0m, which will in turn support the provision for up to 500 redundant apprentices depending on the actual phase mix/duration mix of apprentices over the period of the scheme. The scheme will operate until the 31^st December 2009.

“This announcement is the latest in a number of initiatives set up to assist redundant apprentices in completing their training. Since July of this year, FÁS has been scheduling redundant apprentices to their next off-the-job phase. At present, 426 redundant apprentices are undergoing their Phase 2, Phase 4 & Phase 6 off-the-job training with a further 551 scheduled to attend in the coming weeks”, the Tánaiste added.

The Tánaiste said that the situation with regard to redundant apprentices is being kept under review and asked for the support of the social partners in providing opportunities to young people to complete their apprenticeship.