Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Adding to that, this committee probably believes that apprentices should be given enhanced status. There is a saying for people within the trade that they have been dumbed down over the years for some reason. Do the witnesses agree that SOLAS or the institutes of technology are the best places to deliver these courses? Mr. Parnell rightly said that sometimes we are looking in smaller and regional areas for the big factory to come in. I have found that by addressing the industries that are there, many of them are now taking on extra staff. It is sometimes going unnoticed. We all want the factory that employs 100 people, whereas the existing industry that employs 60 or 70 people or that takes on 30 or 40 may not be highlighted. The members have posed many questions, so I am looking forward to some answers.