COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL
MEETING OF LUCAN/PALMERSTOWN/FONTHILL AREA COMMITTEE
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
QUESTION NO. 26
QUESTION: Councillor M. Ward
To ask the Chief Executive to produce a report on what the Council have got in place in relation to Apprenticeship Schemes eg: Painter, Builder, Electrician, Plumber etc.
How do people apply?
What is the criteria to avail of such schemes?"
REPLY:
The current Work Force Plan (WFP) provides for 14 apprenticeships as follows:
| Craft | WFP No | Headcount | Comment |
| Painter | 9 | 4 (including 3 Acting General Operatives) | 1 to be appointed following Open Competition under Local Apprenticeship Initiative. |
| Plumber | 2 | 1 | |
| Carpenter | 1 | 1 | No vacancy |
| Fitter Mechanic | 1 | 0 | 1 to be appointed following internal confined competition. |
| Bricklayer | 1 | 0 | 1 to be appointed following internally confined competition. |
Interview for an internally confined Bricklayer Apprenticeship and Fitter Mechanic Apprenticeship were held in June 2019 and one candidate was deemed suitable for each respective apprenticeship.
In May 2018, SDCC in partnership with SOLAS piloted a Local Apprenticeship Initiative in the craft of Painting/ Decorating for students in disadvantaged areas. Applications were invited from 6th Year students in the following local schools who were not progressing to third level education and who wished to be included on a panel for an apprenticeship placement.
- Collinstown Park Community College
- Deansrath Community College
- Killinarden Community College
- Mount Seskin Community College
- St Aidan's Community School
- St Kevin's Community School
All applicants must have completed their Leaving Certificate and have a Grade D or higher in five subjects in the Department of Education and Skills Junior Certificate Examination or an approved equivalent qualification.
Applications were received from 4 students and all were invited to attend for Interview in June 2019. One candidate attended and was considered suitable for the position of Apprentice Painter.
To provide context, the council has provision in its current Workforce Plan for 47 permanent Craft Posts which are as follows:
| Craft | WFP | Headcount | Current Vacancy |
| Painter | 8 | 7 | 1 |
| Plumber | 8 | 8 | 0 |
| Carpenter | 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Fitter Mechanic | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Bricklayer | 7 | 7 | 0 |
| Craft Gardener | 5 | 4 | 1- Competition Closed |
| Welder | 2 | 2 | 0 |