Mr. James Benson:

On apprenticeships, for those who might be trying to attract the young, there are many positives within construction that we have not covered. We have focused on where we can make improvements and rightly so, but the minimum wage rate and the living wage rate are about €10 and €12, respectively. A general operative coming into construction on the back of a sectoral employment order will be up at €14.70 an hour in his or her first year as an entrant, which will begin to increase from the second year. Similarly, craft workers will be on €21 or €23 an hour very quickly. Those who come into construction are moved very quickly through the system and there are many opportunities. We often see apprentices in trades come in and after a number of years, progress to being engineers or site foremen. There is a good deal of movement into senior management positions. There is good, enjoyable living to be had in most cases.

Eastern Europeans were mentioned. Half of our population are females but, at the moment, the industry comprises less than 10% females. We need to attract more. There are significant well-stated and documented benefits in having more females on our boards and in the industry. We are starting to see that come through but we need to continue that and do more. A number of campaigns have been completed within the industry and a number of the agents have been a part of them. We are seeing positive patterns in that regard and that will, we hope, continue over the coming years. We need to look at all avenues and all demographics.