Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)

I also raised this issue at last week's committee meeting. I advocate the opening of the apprenticeship route again for plasterers, plumbers, carpenters, electricians and so on. I brought to the attention of the director general of FÁS, Rody Molloy, an issue affecting young electrical apprentices. Many have acquired tremendous practical skills and they are excellent. They then participate in their block release programme in the institute of technology but about six or eight months before they qualify, they go down in an academic subject. After two or three strikes, they are out. Many famous students spent a long time in university.

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