Four hundred apprentices who have been made redundant and were unable to complete their craft qualification because of the economic downturn have been offered the opportunity to complete their training by the ESB.
ESB said its networks division will next month begin training 400 apprentices who lost their jobs before they could complete their electrical apprenticeships.
The company said it had agreed a programme with the State training agency Fás to begin offering on-the-job training opportunities from March.
Fás will write to all redundant electrical apprentices on its register, inviting them to apply for places. ESB said it expected the first 100 apprentices would commence the programme by mid-April.
About 800 electrical apprentices have lost their jobs due to the downturn, ESB said. This means they cannot complete the necessary on-the-job training aspect of their apprenticeship and therefore cannot achieve national craft accreditation.
ESB chief executive Padraig McManus said the chance for apprentices to complete their training was critical for their future careers.
“Without full qualifications, apprentices will not be able to work as electricians and their career opportunities will be far more limited. ESB Networks has the expertise and resources to enable the apprentices to complete their training and ESB staff are delighted to be able to assist in this very important initiative.”
About 3,600 apprentices are currently redundant. Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan announced a €4 million scheme last December to provide assistance to about 500 apprentices to finish their training.
The Tánaiste today the announcement by the ESB. "This is very goods news for some 400 redundant electrical apprentices who will now have the opportunity to complete the on-the-job phase of their apprenticeship in order to gain the required knowledge, skill and competence to successfully complete their apprenticeship”.
She confirmed Fás will immediately contact registered redundant apprentices to ensure that the first 100 apprentices will available to commence this programme by mid April.
Separately, Labour Party TD for Dublin Central, Joe Costello, said it was "unthinkable" that the Department of Enterprise was closing down Fás training facilities at Jervis Street.
He said about 250 training places would be lost at Jervis Street "depriving the entire northside of Dublin of Fás training facilities".
Mr Costello said "virtually" all the training staff have been moved out of Jervis Street and that a class for the recently unemployed would finish at the end of this week.
"The last photography class finishes next month. All the computer, IT and retail classes are closed down and the premises are virtually idle."
Mr Costello noted €2.5 million had been spent on the refitting of an office at D’Olier Street.
"A new employment service will be offered in the old Peats site on Parnell Street. But these are merely employment offices. There are no replacement training services. In these exceptional times of recession the expansion of training facilities should be a priority. It is unconscionable that the existing services should be closed down when they are most needed."
"The level of unemployment has risen to 327,000 with the Taoiseach estimating an all time record of 400,000 jobless by the end of the year," Mr Costello said.
"The key policy of the Government should be to ensure that those who do become unemployed do not fall into long-term unemployment. To avoid this it is essential that the Government put in place support service such as back to education, training and re-skilling facilities for the unemployed."