Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Earlier it was mentioned that the intention was to increase the number of intakes a year from two to three. How many instructors have been hired for those roles? Geographic discrepancies exist for apprenticeships when it comes to apprentices completing the academic part of their course. Will Mr. Brownlee please outline the geographic discrepancies? I am based in the midlands and I know of an apprentice who had to travel as far as Donegal. Now that apprentice is not commuting that distance. There were other apprenticeships available but the closest one that he was doing was based in Donegal. Location is a significant barrier. In terms of the physical structures of training facilities, has work been carried out as to where there may be a shortfall or a demand for additional training facilities? If so, where are they?