FAS yesterday criticised a survey published by the ISME and described it as an attack. The organisation said satisfaction levels with its services among business users were very high, contrary to the findings of the survey.

The survey asked firms for their views on the Standard Based Apprenticeship Scheme. Of the respondents, 60.9 per cent rated the scheme as poor, while 68.8 per cent were critical of the work habits the scheme fosters in trainee apprenticeships.

ISME concluded that FAS, as presently constructed, had lost "the confidence of the generality of the business community".

These results have been questioned by FAS, which has challenged ISME to produce in detail the findings of its survey and to let it be assessed by a professional organisation.

FAS has said that of the 989 companies surveyed, only 27 per cent replied and this figure could not reflect accurately the position of the companies surveyed.

"I seriously question the validity of this survey," said Mr Jerry Pike of FAS.

FAS point to an independent survey carried out by Irish Market Surveys in the autumn of 1996. Of the 1,000 companies surveyed, there was a response from 95.5 per cent.

Two out of three firms gave a positive rating to the recruitment services provided by the organisation in the survey. Over 60 per cent have used some FAS service since the beginning of 1995.

The survey also found that Apprenticeship, Recruitment Services and the Training Support Scheme are the most commonly used service by the companies surveyed.

The biggest users of FAS Services, according to the IMS survey, were the manufacturing sector (64 per cent), the construction sector (64 per cent) and the motor trade (80 per cent).