Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for the presentations. To what extent does Mr. Friel think the issue of the extremely low rates of pay for apprentices, combined with the pro rata fees people are faced with paying and what has been said about the cost of tools, are factors in discouraging young people from going down the route of apprenticeships? I ask the witnesses to give a picture of the kind of wage rates we are speaking about, particularly in the first year but also in the second year.