Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have just finished a review of that programme, which has been published. I welcome that, as it proposes to expand the number of apprenticeships. That is needed. However, I have said time and again that we need a literacy and numeracy strategy within those apprenticeships. We have heard about the boom and bust cycle and people may have entered an apprenticeship to become a carpenter, for example. When the bottom fell from the construction industry, those people would have been unqualified to do anything else. We need an apprentice system which not only teaches a carpentry element, for example, but would provide the basic skills in literacy, numeracy and other areas so as to allow people to move sideways very quickly into further education and training if required. That would give people the best possible chance of getting another job as quickly as possible rather than ending up as long-term unemployed. We have some of the highest numbers in Europe for long-term unemployed.

The Minister of State wants to know what we need. We need a recovery that is fair, just and which addresses the cuts implemented in previous years. We need an increase in expenditure for the affected services. Unless we put investment into those services, and not only to meet demographic demand, the country will never get ahead.

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