Mr. Michael Hourihan:

To go back slightly, I agree completely with what the Deputy is saying about the promotion of apprenticeships. She is quite correct. There is a certain level of snobbery there. That is what we in World Skills Ireland are trying to work on. We are trying to highlight the fact that apprenticeship is a viable, workable option that is really valuable. The only way of really learning something is to actually work on it. They talk about medicine and how it is pushed through and of course it is suitable for some people. However, after seven years at university a doctor is not allowed into an operating theatre to operate on you or me. They have to have practical experience. The apprenticeship model is what is used throughout. The snobbery end of it is reducing. We hope to be able to bring it down. The career guidance organisation we are dealing with is certainly open to that and has engaged with us. We are delighted it has done so.

I can be specific about the funding in MTU Cork. To bring those buildings up to spec we are talking in the region of €20 million to €25 million. That only one part of the building, however. The apprenticeship building in MTU Bishopstown campus was built in 1976. The throughput at that time was very low. It was a regional technical college back then and the numbers going though were relatively low. The building was fit for purpose at that point. It is certainly not fit for purpose at this point in time. The numbers going through are huge. Our facilities in the apprenticeship area are used not just by the apprentices but by the full-time engineering students as well. These students expect and are entitled to the best facilities. At this point we have the best equipment but we do not have the best facilities.