Mr. Jimmy Deenihan:

I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire. I am glad he raised that point because as he knows, MTU is the largest provider of apprenticeships in the country. There are more than 1,800 apprentices. I visited the south campus in Tralee recently and saw how it has developed. Doing an apprenticeship no longer includes just the technical aspect. It also includes the business and safety aspects. Apprenticeships are changing. I agree with the Deputy when he said apprenticeships are about more than just using one's hands. One must also use one's head, in several different ways. That change is happening. There are now ways for an apprentice to go on and undertake a PhD. One can get a degree and a master's degree. I know of one instance of an apprentice doing a PhD. Things are changing.

The Deputy referred to the German model, which has been talked about in the Oireachtas for years. We are now moving towards it to some extent. Mr. Tim Horgan, who is the head of the faculty of engineering, addressed the committee on this issue some time ago. I was reading the notes of that meeting online. He gave a good overview of what is happening in MTU. Collaboration between MTU and the new technological universities is important. The approach that is being taken in MTU could help in the other technological universities. It is a successful approach.

We have a building crisis in this country, as we all know. There is a major shortage of plasterers, plumbers and electricians. It is very worrying, as we all know, to get someone to do a simple job. An electrician is very difficult to get and that is the case across the country. The technological universities will have a big role to play at that level in the future. That will be the case when we consider retrofitting and issues around climate change. All of that aspect of matters ties into apprenticeships. If we are to be competitive as a society, apprenticeships are going to be important. I thank the Deputy for raising that question.

I intend to invite all the Cork Deputies to Bishopstown, perhaps when the Dáil has adjourned. It is important to bring all the Deputies in to see what is happening in MTU. I will do the same in Kerry. I thank the Deputy.