4th November 2005, 10:55 PM
I got mine cheaper but lunch wasn't provided (I think it was ?80-90). It's a good idea to phone ahead and book the course in advance as many instructors have a waiting list. I heard it was more expensive in Dublin. They need at least a certain number (ten?)people on the course to go ahaead and run it legally so if some people don't show up you could also find yourself having to reschedule. It's aimed at people who can't read or write, or whose first language isn't English so most of it is really boring and tedious as teh instructor basically reads out the manual with the occasional video. It's mostly about building sites and specialist tools that I've never even heard of, all you have to do is retain the information until the end of the day when you do the multiple guess thingy. Fas also takes ages to post you out your card, so get the instructor to write you a letter to say you've passed as you need it when you start work. There are I think similar courses in Scotland in the construction industry as we had some quite bored Scottish fellas on mine who'd just sat through one the week previously.... We were told when they were first brought in that as they have the EU symbol on them that they were valid all over Europe and visa versa, but I have since been told of people from elsewhere in the EU who held their country's equivalent who had to do it again, and I was also told that if Northern Ireland (and UK?) bring in a version I'd have to do that too. However I don't know if this is true or not.
Lucy
Lucy