Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am really pleased to hear Mr. Hourihan speak about collaboration with ETBs and the way forward is to use both premises. I welcome the capital funding available to the ETBs and I hope it will make a big difference. One of the biggest challenges is that we do not have the workshops and space, and we know that. We have a huge backlog. It would take a number of years to clear, even if a project could be approved tomorrow.

I asked the Minister to examine this aspect in respect of speeding up the procurement process and exploring what needs to be done in this context. I refer to the urgency in areas such as workforce planning and what we need to achieve there. Therefore, I hear loud and clear what is being said about the capital investment required. We also, however, need there to be proper collaboration. I wish to see the same outcome in this regard as the witnesses. I spent yesterday afternoon in Castlebar education and training board, ETB, centre and I saw the good work being done there. It is evident from the premises, though, that there has been no investment in the facility for years. In that regard, I would like to see the same type of collaboration with the Atlantic Technological University, ATU. This is the way forward. The committee will be fully supportive in the context of what was said.

Turning to the apprentices, how early in the secondary school cycle do people need to be made aware of apprenticeships and of the opportunities available in this area? Would it be in first year, second year, third year or at what stage should such an intervention be made? I ask this question because I sometimes feel it is too late by the time students are exposed to this information.