David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I thank Mr. Hegarty. The local training initiatives are another niche group. These often work with people from disadvantaged backgrounds and bring their skills levels up to enable them to get into employment or further education. These initiatives need some tender loving care, TLC. Many of the staff working in this challenging area have no job security. They sometimes go from year to year and have to sign on and sign off. There is no career progression or development, yet they are often working in areas that are frequently very challenging and with people who are challenged in all kinds of ways. They do this very successfully as well. There are overlaps between the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in all these areas, so I just bring this context to the attention of the witnesses. It is a niche area but it has potential. I thank the witnesses.