Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The issue of apprenticeships is one I have raised previously with the Minister of State on Question Time. It is critical that the new apprenticeship model is not just for a particular skill. For example, when the construction industry went bust, the workers' skills could not be transferred directly. Therefore, when developing a new apprenticeship model it must be geared towards the workforce. We need to look at what skills will be needed in the next ten, 15 and 20 years and if there is a fall in a particular sector that people who have gone through an apprenticeship model can quickly sidestep into something else and upskill. It is also important to ensure that all apprenticeships have some level of literacy and numeracy skills built into the programmes.

In respect of the cuts in the capitation grants, the savings that will accrue to the Department amount to €1 million. I am aware that an increased number of students will enter that sector but I cannot ascertain what the figure would be if we did not have the €1 million cutback. I was able to get the figure for primary and post-primary but not for this particular programme. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could provide that figure either now or at a later date.

In regard to the education and training boards, some concern has been expressed to me by a number of people from around the country at the level of overdrafts that some ETBs are currently applying. Some of the ETBs have not accessed those overdrafts but I am getting reports that some have overdraft facilities in place up to nearly €5 million. While they have not availed of those overdraft facilities, what safeguards are being put in place to ensure that overdraft facilities which have been applied are not used? I presume this is a safety mechanism and that ETBs will not get to a position where they end up being in significant debt. What oversight is the Department looking at in that particular area?