Mr. Tom Parlon:

In response to Deputy Maloney, I agree that we should learn from our mistakes. He mentioned some of the legacy issues from the building boom but we have a legacy now from not building anything at all in terms of rising rents, rising house prices and homelessness with which we have to deal.

In terms of the upturn, the Deputy asked what were we doing about apprentices. I wish to inform him, and he might be able to inform himself, that we are having detailed discussions with the Tánaiste and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. Proposals are being worked out practically to have a pilot scheme in particular. The Deputy mentioned electricians. Thankfully, our electrician apprenticeships are very positive because we have a big mechanical and electrical, M and E, sector and many of the electricians are working in the likes of Intel, the pharmaceutical companies and the foreign direct investment, FDI, companies here but the wet trades, which traditionally would be plastering, block laying and tiling, have suffered because house building has practically stalled. We have a very detailed proposition that is being worked out with the Departments of Social Protection and Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation which would involve extending JobsPlus in a few more areas. We are waiting for that to happen but the industry is fully supportive, and the industry sees it as a major positive. There is no question that if the €3.5 billion the Government is promising to spend comes about and if the general economic turnaround begins to happen, and house building starts coming back up to a sustainable level of 20,000 or 25,000, we will have a skills shortage. Traditionally, 90% of all apprentices were in the construction sector and we are committed to being involved to that level again but as I said, we have worked closely and very well with both Departments and I would hope there would be an announcement on that soon.