Advice Centres

Patrick,
I am writing to you out of deep concern in relation to a recent decision by the HEA to cease apprenticeship training in both Carpentry & Joinery and Electrical in the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown.
As you are no doubt aware, apprenticeship numbers have been falling over the past number of years and as a result a reduction in apprentice allocation would have been expected but the decision to cease the delivery in the most modern and best equipped Institute in the country in scandalous.
There have been 3 other Institutes of Technology along with Blanchardstown IT and 1 VEC delivering off the job phases 4 & 6 for Carpentry & Joinery in the Leinster region over the past number of years. DIT Bolton St, Dundalk IT , Carlow IT and Dun Laoghaire VEC. Of all these places, Blanchardstown has the most strategic geographical location, the best and most advanced level of equipment and facilities, the cheapest running costs and all staff delivering modules in this area are permanently contracted. I really cannot see any rational reason for not selecting Blanchardstown IT to deliver training in these trade areas.
I fear that undue political influence has been brought to bear on this decision as the only place where apprentice students can now attend for off the job phases 4 & 6 for Carpentry & Joinery in the Dublin area is Dun Laoghaire VEC.
As an elected representative for the Blanchardstown area I would really appreciate it if you could make some enquiries in relation the selection criteria used to decide which training facilities were no longer required to deliver training in these trades. Dublin has the highest number of apprentice students in the country and has now had the number of training facilities cut from three to one. I would have thought that, at least the best one would have been kept.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I look forward to your reply.
Kind Regards
Richie