FAS Electricial Apprenticeship dilema, any ideas folks?

johngalway

Hello folks,

Before I say what info I'm after I'd appreciate if those who are about to post one line sentences telling me to contact FAS wouldn't, I appreciate the thought but I'm looking for ordinary folks expierences

My situation is this, I've got a small very rural sheep farm, I'm underemployed earning around 50% of the average industrial wage last time I heard it mentioned was about 31k I think, impossible to have any quality of life on that amount. I live 50 miles from my nearest FAS training centre in Galway which I have found runs all of the Electrical courses I would need to do.

I know the first step is to gain employment with an electrician who'll be willing and able to take me on and train me up. However in my contacts with FAS in Galway they informed me that they could not guarentee where my training would take place. That my acceptance into FAS would in essence mean I would have to accept training in ANY FAS centre in Ireland.

So, I've already said that I run my own small farm which I'm unwilling to give up, I also have certain responsibilities on my fathers farm. This makes extended periods away from home impossible for me.

My question is this, is there any way around what FAS has told me? I really do want to persue this but I can only manage to do that if I'm based in Galway. Does anyone have any constructive suggestions or advice for me please? By the way I'm 28, never too late to start though!

Advice from anyone connected with FAS or any current or past apprentices would be much appreciated, thanks for reading all

paul666

hi im an electrician and i have just finished my 4 years training. i think what u should do is get a job with contracter and hope that fas will give u your block release in Galway. Generally they do some of the time keep u as close to home as possible. the guy in fas was probably covering the possibility that u could have to do it somewhere other than Galway. u should try get in contact with contracters and ask them where are their apprentices doing their block releases. i would say at least 70% of them are doing it in Galway.

johngalway

Thanks for that Paul666
Has anyone else got any insights into this problem?

Mr Magnolia

If you go into Fas and explain your situation they will try and help you. A friend of mine was due to go from Dundalk to Waterford for Fas. He has 2 kids at home, he went in and explained his case, it took a couple of phone calls and a bit of sweating but they helped him out in the end

Mr Magnolia

Also OP, you're normally sent to the Fas centre that you were registered in so ask your employer to register you in the centre closest to you.

johngalway

Cheers for that Sparks, feel better about it now Thanks again!