Marie Sherlock (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank Science Foundation Ireland and IBEC for attending the hearing this morning. I am sorry that I have come late to the hearing here.

I have quite a narrow and specific question. The question relates to apprenticeship and I suppose it is very much directed to IBEC.

I would say at the outset it is incredible to think that we have such a surplus in the National Training Fund. There are very serious structural flaws that need to be got right with regards to the fund and it is great that we are having this hearing today.

With regards to IBEC's proposals here with regards to apprenticeships, obviously, we have two types of apprenticeships now in terms of the consortia-led and the craft apprenticeships. IBEC might walk us through the difference that the €7,000 employer incentive scheme relative to the €2,000 employer incentive scheme will make. I am sorry I only caught the end of what they said to Deputy Stanton there. In terms of teasing through the extent to which that will have a dramatic impact on firms taking on apprentices, I would like to hear more from IBEC about that.