The FÁS Training Services Division provides a wide range of training courses to meet the needs of employers, employees and job-seekers. This section presents information on Apprenticeship, Skills Training and Other Training Programmes.

Apprenticeship

2005 saw the highest number of new apprentice registrations ever recorded in Ireland, with a total of 8,304 young persons registering with FÁS - representing an increase of 1% on the 2004 registration figure. At the end of 2005, there was a total of 28,600 registered apprentices in the country. These apprentices were employed across 26 designated trades in 10,700 companies.

Table1: Apprentice Registration 1996/2005

Table 2 below shows the number of apprentices that registered with FÁS in 2005 by specific trade.

Table 2: No. of Apprentice Registrations by Trade 2005

In response to the continuing increase in apprentice registrations in some trades, an additional 26 Phase 2 courses were provided by FÁS. The Institutes of Technology also provided additional provision and a suite of summer courses in 2005.

Following an examination of the Standards Based Apprenticeship system in 2003, the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (NAAC) invited stakeholders, including representatives of employers, trade unions, FÁS and the Institutes of Technology, to conduct a comprehensive review of each individual apprenticeship programme. In 2005, the respective stakeholders were invited to submit comments on the proposed revised curricula and a standardised feedback system was designed to collate their comments. Following the stakeholder consultation process, FÁS commenced the process of incorporating the NAAC-approved technical amendments into 16 curricula. The approved technical amendments for the remaining curricula will be finalised in 2006.

By the end of 2005, FÁS had finalised the revised curricula for the trades of Carpentry and Joinery, Construction Plant Fitter, Electrical, Motor Mechanic and Plumber. The revised curricula will be phased-in during 2006. Arising from the apprenticeship review process, FÁS commissioned the development of a common Environmental Awareness module for all apprentice courses.

Apprentices are deemed to be qualified when they have successfully completed all the on and off-the-job phases of their apprenticeship, which is generally of a minimum of four years in duration from the date of registration with FÁS. In recognition of this achievement, a FETAC Advanced Certificate (previously called the National Craft Certificate) is awarded to successful apprentices by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC).

In 2005, 4,948 graduating apprentices were awarded the FETAC Advanced Certificate (4,921 males and 27 females). Table 3 shows the number of FETAC Advanced Certificates awarded in 2005 by trade category.

Table 3: FETAC Advanced Certificates awarded by Trade in 2005

International Competition Success

A 20-strong team of Irish apprentices scored highly against the best in the industrialised world at the 2005 World Skills Competition held in Finland. After four days of examination in Helsinki, the Irish team was ranked seventh in the world, coming home with three Gold, one Silver and one Bronze medal, as well as nine Certificates of Distinction, thus improving on the results in Switzerland in 2003. The team and individual scores show that the skills of Irish apprentices are comparable with those from the leading industrial nations. This international showcase for trades was attended by almost 180,000 visitors, with over 630 apprentices competing from 43 countries around the world. Inter-agency preparation of the Irish team for Helsinki took place in co-operation with the Department of Education and Science, Fáilte Ireland, the IVEA and the Dublin and regional Institutes of Technology.

During 2005, the NAAC, together with the FÁS Executive, engaged in a series of workshops whose aim was to formalise a structure and process for the designation of apprenticeships in current, new and emerging occupations. In consultation with representatives of the relevant sectors, FÁS proposed apprenticeship curricula for the occupations of Industrial Insulation, Environmental Stonework, Electronic Security Systems, Jewellery and Farriery. Other occupations examined for potential apprenticeships included Hairdressing, Structured Cabling and Pipe Fitting.

Skills Training

FÁS continued to deliver a wide range of skills training courses through its network of Training Centres and contracted training providers. The courses concentrate on high-level technical skills and soft skills (e.g. communications, team-working, career planning). Participants may be out of work for varying lengths of time, may have recently been made redundant, want to change jobs, have completed senior cycle education some time previously or are progressing from Foundation Courses, Return to Work or Labour Market Engagement and Guidance programmes. Courses and programmes are designed to address skills and labour shortages across the economy as a whole and to increase the prospects of trainees gaining or returning to employment.

The Advanced Skills (Traineeship) Programme consists of occupational specific training courses that use a combination of off-the job and structured on-the job workplace training. Courses are developed in conjunction with social partners, union/employer organisations and regulatory bodies. To ensure that the training objectives and curricula of Traineeships reflect the current market needs, and that they provide skills training appropriate to the needs of trainees and employers, a series of systematic course reviews was undertaken in 2005 involving course participants, instructors, external trainers, employers and regulatory bodies. This resulted
in the development of new Traineeships and the updating of existing Traineeships.

FÁS worked with the newly-appointed statutory Private Security Authority (PSA) to assist in implementing new licensing standards for the sector. This included the development of two stand-alone FETAC-certified modules; Security Guarding and Door Security Procedures. These modules will be piloted in 2006.

A new Environmental Awareness learning module was developed for inclusion in the existing Supply Chain Logistics Traineeship - in response to the course review and feedback from employers. FÁS also co-operated with the Heritage Council, the Office of Public Works and the Department of the Environment to develop a training scheme to address a shortage of skilled thatchers.

The following new Traineeships were piloted:

• Dental Assistants, implemented in Limerick in conjunction with the Irish Dental Council
• Forestry Operatives, implemented in Athlone in conjunction with Coillte and the Irish Forestry Contractors Association
• Telecommunications Installers, implemented in Limerick in conjunction with Chorus, NTL, USP
  and ICL
  
• Trainee Jockeys and Racing Grooms, based at the Curragh and developed in association with the Irish Racehorse Trainers Association, the Turf Club and RACE.

The following Traineeships were systematically reviewed in 2005:

• Financial Adviser Assistant, in conjunction with the Professional Insurance Brokers Association (PIBA)
• Equestrian Instructor Levels 1 and 2, with the Association of Irish Riding Establishments (AIRE)
• Auto-turner Operator/Setter, in conjunction with Machine Turned Parts Association representatives
• Childcare Practitioner, in conjunction with Barnardos, Health Boards and HSE representatives
• Healthcare Assistant, in association with the HSE and Health Boards’ representatives.

Reviews of the Legal Secretary and the Computer and Communications Technician Traineeships commenced in late 2005 and will continue as part of the 2006 schedule of reviews.

FÁS improved the content, range and flexibility of its skills training programmes through a series of major initiatives in 2005. These included a review with key stakeholders of 24 Specific Skills courses and Bridging programmes. More part-time training options were made available together with a wider range of Evening Courses on offer throughout the year.

The Advanced Skills (SST) Programme consists of courses which are employment-led and lead to qualifications that offer learners both generic and advanced skills. The courses are suitable for people with good personal skills i.e. literacy, numeracy and communication skills and meet the learner profile for the course. The expected outcomes are progression to employment in the occupational field or to further and higher education/training and the achievement of certification from levels 5 – 7 in the National Qualifications Framework.

As part of its on-going evaluation and review process, the following Specific Skills Training (SST) courses were approved for inclusion in the National Course Database:

In addition to the above, 16 programmes were approved for experienced workers undertaking Construction Skills Certification Scheme courses.

Other Training Programmes

Foundation Training Programmes include courses for people who have left school early and/or mature people who have been out of work for a considerable period of time. The courses can be flexible in delivery and concentrate on basic personal skills development, career direction and skill sampling. Expected outcomes are to gain entry to further education/training or entry-level employment. A review of Foundation Training initiatives such as Connections, Career Decisions and Equal was initiated and a new National Foundation Training Programme is under development.

The Return to Work Programme is suitable for people who may have been out of paid employment for a long time and who are interested in returning to the labour market. The programme is mainly for mature adults who have good basic skills i.e. literacy, numeracy and communication skills. It can be flexible in delivery
and concentrates on personal development, building self-esteem, career planning, selected technical and soft skills.

The Bridging Programme consists of courses which help people to progress to employment and/or to further training/education. Courses are suitable for people with good personal skills, i.e. literacy, numeracy and communication skills, and help learners to achieve the specific entry requirements to FÁS mainline training programmes or to entry-level occupations in the labour market. Courses also provide a bridge between Foundation Training or Return to Work programmes and FÁS mainline training programmes. The Programme concentrates on personal development, career planning, technical and soft skills.

By year-end, progress by individual units within the Training Services Division resulted in the ISO and/or Q Mark being awarded to, or retained by, the following Training Centres:

Athlone, Baldoyle, City Centre (Dublin), Cork, Dundalk, Finglas, Galway/Ballina, Letterkenny/Gweedore, Limerick, Loughlinstown, Shannon, Sligo, Waterford/Wexford.

A highlight for Cabra Training Centre was the award of the new Q Mark Quality Assurance System and the achievement of First Place in the Government, Health & Social Services category of the National Quality and Excellence Awards, made by Excellence Ireland.