Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The replies we get in the appeals process seem to be someone ticking boxes. No matter what element of social welfare or Revenue I am dealing with, within 48 hours I will get a response to state the issue is being dealt with or a detailed explanation as to why a decision was made in a particular way. Here I find that explanations are not given and it is very hard for us to explain to constituents when this happens. I ask that it be reviewed and that the Department look at the procedures that other Departments have in place to see how we can improve it. For a parent to be going back and forth for eight months is totally frustrating. This is just one of a number of people I had to deal with this year.

Another issue I want to touch on is the availability of various courses in our third level institutions. There are ongoing discussions on veterinary courses. We have one veterinary college in the country. It has been there for a long number of years and there has been no increase in numbers. Recently I had a meeting with the Department about radiation therapists. There are 30 places available in Trinity and 12 postgraduate places in Cork and that is it. We have a significant shortage. Has the Department had an overall look at the number of courses available? The population of the country has increased by 40% in the past 23 years. We have not had the same increase in many areas where we need people. I know the Department is doing a very good job on apprenticeships but is an overall review being done on what is available at third level? I know work is being done on apprenticeships.