Joan Collins (Dublin South Central, People Before Profit Alliance)
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I thank the witnesses. It is interesting to hear from all the groups that are involved in the community sector looking at the changes that have occurred over the past five years.

My question is a follow-up on the SOLAS plan. How does that plan work? Do employers or potential employers in technology and all the different areas come to SOLAS stating what they envisage over the next period of time if they get funding from the banks to set up their businesses? How does SOLAS generate a plan for providing people with skills for the future?

The other area is apprenticeships. Many made the point that people should be given the opportunity to get themselves educated at community level.

I want to ask a question of those who know the business. I came across a lone parent who wanted to take up carer's training in a private school for €1,900 and who was getting no support from anywhere to take up that course. What provision is being made for those trying to get into education? That was a private course but it was not offered anywhere else.

Another issue is the recent decision to charge apprentices for their training as part of their work process. I do not know where it came from. Is that cutting off opportunities or putting up barriers for young people and the middle aged? We are not only talking about young workers any more. How should the matter be dealt with? What supports should be given to workers? They are not students and cannot get student grants. They are being told they must pay fees that they can ill afford. Should SOLAS continue paying those fees, as FÁS had done since 2004? That is an important area. We want to get more people into the workplace and part of that involves training, and then these apprentices, who are on the minimum wage, are being told they have to pay for that without any supports. That will be a significant barrier.