Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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There is a chronic need in the construction, maintenance and retrofitting sectors. There is a huge gap. Employers and contractors I know say they cannot get people who are skilled. There is a gap. I am told there is a reluctance by many employers to get into the game of apprenticeships. There is a separate problem that many people want their children to go to third level education. That is good but there is a huge enticement for young people coming out of school to do apprenticeships because they earn in training. They can start earning much earlier. They get educated as they go. Their skills improve each year and their employment also improves in that their wages go up each year. On diversification, I understand there are some moves to shorten the length of time of the apprenticeship for some of the traditional trades. For example, it has been mentioned to me that moves are afoot to reduce apprenticeships for painters and plasterers to three or four year apprenticeships. Is that correct?