Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I refer to B05, SOLAS further education. I wish to tease out the issue a little more. The Minister of State, Deputy Halligan, responded to me. I am particularly concerned about crafts and trades. The Minister told me he will send me on the information on new apprenticeships. I know there has been some increase, but there is obviously a real need for more apprentices. I presume one of the issues is that there are not enough builders or employers to take on apprentices. Is the Minister considering the possibility of finding other approaches rather than having to have a sponsoring employer? Is bogus self-employment one of the problems? Many people who were employed by a company are now being described as self-employed even though they are actually working with one builder. We need to tease out the issue a little more. Can something be done? I refer in particular to the need for more housing. Many tradesmen have emigrated. We need many more to come on stream. It is a concern shared across the spectrum.