Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. The number of apprentices who are losing their places daily in the on-the-job part of their apprenticeships is alarming. Up to the end of November last year, the number of apprentices being displaced from their courses was a trickle. However, throughout December, January and February there has been a serious loss in the apprentices' work schemes.

The data on which the Minister announced the employer-based redundant apprentice rotation scheme in January were incomplete and out of date, even at that time. They are particularly out of date now. I hope the Minister of State can provide more up to date figures that reflect the reality of what is happening to many apprentices today. The trades the Minister mentioned, that is, carpentry and joinery, electrical, plastering, plumbing and bricklaying, relate to the construction industry. However, many other apprentices in other areas have lost their apprenticeships.

It is a great credit to the management of the ESB that it has come to the rescue of this scheme by offering 400 places. The construction industry and its leaders, particularly the former Minister of State, Mr. Tom Parlon, should stand up for the many apprentices who have lost their apprenticeships in the construction industry and in areas related to it. It is important, even at this late stage, that they come forward and make some contribution towards the re-employment of apprentices who have lost their jobs. FÁS and the Department of Social and Family Affairs are combining to seek employment for apprentices. That indicates the lack of knowledge they have of the situation and the availability of jobs in this country. Jobs are simply not available in the construction industry unless Mr. Parlon comes forward to support apprentices or provide for them in one way or another.

The provision of €4 million for the FÁS scheme is totally inadequate given the numbers that are now unemployed. Why FÁS has been the sole agency responsible for the off-work training element of apprenticeships is baffling. The VECs have many excellent programmes available and it is regrettable that this facility has been refused. Likewise, the institutes of technology have many places available in worthwhile schemes that are appropriate for many of the apprentices who have been displaced. The amount of money available is totally inadequate. I urge the Minister immediately to broaden the number of people and companies that can take on apprentices. Let the example given by the ESB be replicated by many other State companies.

See this speech in context