Thousands of apprentices to protest at institutes of technology over charge

THOUSANDS of apprentices are expected to protest at the country’s institutes of technology today over charges being levied for studying there.

As part of their training, all apprentices spend two 10-week terms at the institutes, for which college authorities have now imposed a €223 charge. The fee, which is one-third the annual registration fee charged to full-time third level students, was approved recently by Education Minister Noel Dempsey.

But craft unions described the charge as a stealth tax.

“Apprentices are registered with FÁS and the institutes are merely contractors to FÁS. Effectively, this is a stealth tax on young, low-paid employees in training,” said Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union acting general secretary Eamon Devoy.

TEEU is among a number of craft unions supporting the protests at Dublin Institute of Technology (Kevin Street and Bolton St campuses), and the institutes in Blanchardstown, Cork, Tralee, Waterford, Limerick, Athlone, Galway-Mayo, Sligo and Dundalk. There are more than 26,500 apprentices in the country. Up to 8,000 attend third level courses at any given time.

The unions have accused the college directors of failing to consult with the FÁS National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee which includes employer, union and government department representatives.

However, the Council of Directors of the Institutes of Technology said the charges are being imposed to meet the costs of student services, which they say apprentices have access to during their time in college. These include healthcare, counselling, sports and society facilities, registration and exams.

The colleges also say that apprentices are paid during their training period, unlike the general student body.

Council of directors’ chairperson Paul Hannigan said more than half of apprentices have paid the charge, with payments received by more than 70% of students in Tralee, Limerick, Dundalk and Athlone.

However, Mr Devoy said those who have paid the fee did so under pressure because institutes told them they would not be given their exam results otherwise.

The Union of Students in Ireland will be supporting the protests as they are opposed to registration charges for all students, including apprentices. “We have witnessed countless cutbacks in the training and education sector affecting students from all backgrounds seeking to optimise their employability. This registration charge for apprenticeships is the icing on the cake and we say enough is enough,” said USI president Will Priestley.