Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We have had positive engagement with the Minister, Deputy Harris, regarding young school-leavers. It involves using the likes of Engineers Ireland to promote the prospect of careers in the public sector, including specialist careers that will add value to what we need to do here. This is not just an OPW issue. I am sure if the Railway Procurement Agency, or TII, whatever it is called, was in front of the committee, it would say the same thing. We need more young people, through the technological universities or other universities, to look at civil engineering and the specialist disciplines in a way in which they have not looked at them yet. At a micro level in the OPW, we have a significant apprenticeship programme which was resurrected in 2011 at the height of the collapse. We also have much engagement with universities and individual students to encourage them into this discipline, because it is a fulfilling and rewarding career.