Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with the Chairman. Like her, I am a great supporter of apprenticeships. In fact, in January I am attending the launch of a new apprenticeship scheme. It takes a while to get such a scheme together because it involves the whole of industry. The launch, which is in my county, is exciting and will be attended also by the Minister for Education and Skills. Only two weeks ago I was at an awards ceremony for apprentices who had completed four years of craft apprenticeships. The Chairman is right that there were very few women and it was all men, but it was a great occasion. Some of them got up to tell their story in the same way the two apprentices told their story to the committee. It is a win-win for everybody and means young people can continue their education and stay at home. They do not all have to come to the city or to the universities, and that sometimes works out better for their family circumstances, given some do part-time work in the country.