Mr. Andrew Brownlee:

On the question about additional instructors, we have sanction for 90 instructors and we have recruited over 70 new instructors so far. To the credit of our instructors and the union that represents them, they have very much stepped up. A three-intake model operates in every training centre in this country, which is good to see and is helping us to reduce backlogs quite significantly.

On where we send them, the Deputy is right that apprentices could technically be sent anywhere. In particular since Covid, we have tried to localise it and keep apprentices as close to their residences as we possibly can. Sometimes it does not work and the only place is in Donegal or Waterford. If the person has extenuating circumstances, then we try to address that. I do not think there are major gaps in different parts of the country. In fact, because of the emergency plan, we are setting up new workshops anywhere that can accommodation them.