Statistical Report 1935-1936 - Department of Education and Skills

84in the marked demand for instruction in the technical schools in thecounty boroughs during the session 1936-37. In the Technical School,Bolton Street, Dublin, over 600 trade students received specialisedinstruction in Building Construction, Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbers'Work, Cabinetmaking, Woodcutting Machinery, Brickwork and Paintingand Decorating. To keep pace with modern developments severalnew machines were introduced into the Woodcutting Machinery sectionand over 70 students Were enrolled. A special classfor JourneymenPlumbers in copper welding and brazing, roof copper work and leadburning attracted 28 trade students. A new class in paint sprayingin connection with coach painting was followed by 7 senior students.In Cork, classes for Masons and Bricklayers were attended by 32trade students, whilst a specialised class in hand-railing was taken by8 trade students.In two centres, the value of day time instruction for apprenticesto the trade has received definite recognition. At the Bolton StreetTechnical School, Dublin, 26 apprentices received instruction inpainting and decorating for 6 hours per week in their employers' timethroughout the whole session. In the Carpentry and Joinery section28 apprentices Were allowed off for 6 hours per week to attendspecialised trade classes in the same school. In the Waterford TechnicalSchool, 17 apprentices attended instruction in Woodwork anddrawing for 4 hours per week during their working time.Woollen Industry.-Irish Worsted Mills, Ltd., acquired a site inPortlaoighise in 1936 for the erection of a factory to produce worsteddress goods, costume cloths and mantle cloths for women's wear andworsted suiting cloths for men's wear. It is proposed to install in thefactory modern equipment for the weaving, the dyeing and the finishingof the cloth.At an early stage the company sought the co-operation of theCounty Laoighise Vocational Education Committee and their ChiefExecutive Officer to assist in the selection of suitable candidates fortraining. After careful investigation, two boys from the day engineeringclass were sent to Bradford to be trained as loom tuners. Within-a short period they displayed such skill that it was decided to retainthem permanently in Bradford and three more boys from the engineeringclass were sent across for similar training. Similarly one boy fromthe Commercial Section of the day school was selected for specialtraining in office organisation.For the general work, 32 girls, mainly drawn from the local technicalschool, \\'ere sent to Bradford and divided up amongst 4 mills; wherethey are being trained as burlers and weavers. Reports received fromthe factory show that all are making very good progres5.85All expenses in connection wj th this trammg are being defrayedby the Company, who are anxious to have a quota of skilled labouravailable when the factory opens in the Spring. The VocationalEducation Committee, which is taking an active interest in thisdevelopment, is prepared to co-operate with the Company ,•..ithregard to local training at a later date.Tanning Industry.-Reference was made in the previous AnnualReport to provision made in Carrick-on-Suir for the training ofoperatives to be employed in the local tannery. During the session1935-36, 10 boys and 15 girls were enrolled in these classes. To givethe work done in the technical school a more practical outlook, theVocational Education Committee installed a small tannery drum,which was used by the Manager of the tannery to demonstrate andexplain the actual processes which take place on a large scale at thetannery. Classes were also held at the tannery itself to make thestudents familiar with the machines in use there. The local firm contributed50 per cent. of the cost of the equipment installed in thetechnical schOOl. Before the end of the session 10 boys and 8 girlswere employed in the industry. The classes have again been formedfor the current session.Towards the end of the session provision was made in Dunga rvanfor classes in connection with the leather factory established there.As the result of a competitive examination, 16 boys from CountyWaterford, 10 of whom came from the local technical school, wereselected for training. The successful candidates attended W'oodworkand metalwork classes in the Technical School for two evenings inthe week, received instruction in the theory and working of themachines in the factory on one evening in the week and within a monthwere taken into the factory. During the current session it is proposedto form a special class in the technical school for 10 employees whoseeducational standard is equivalent to that of matriculation. In thisclass instruction will be given on the theory of Tannery Technologyas prescribed in the syllabus of the City and Guilds' examinations inLeatherManufacture.Toy-M aking.-During the session 1934-35 a training course wasorganised by the Tralee Vocational Education Committee in connectionwith the establishment of a local toy factory. Before the endof the year, 20 girls and 18 boys from the course had secured employment.Early in 1936 another short intensive course was started forgirls at the request of the factory authorities. Twenty girls wereenrolled in this course. The directors have been so satisfied with thestudents thus trained, that they have decided that entrance to thefactory will ~n fu~ure be confined to those who have passed throughthe day contmuatlOn courses of Tralee Technical School, and who arerecommended to them by the school authorities.