Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. Hopefully, the answers will prove the point I made, having talked to a number of instructors from different centres to ensure I was not being over the top in my suggestions.

4 o’clock

I will move on to the second issue that I wish to raise. Is the Minister aware of cases of instructors delivering classes on trades in which they are not qualified? It is fine for an instructor to cover once in a while if, for example, someone else is sick or on leave, but the course is short. While the expansion in the number of courses being offered is welcome, I am aware of a carpentry instructor delivering a painting course. One might believe that this was fair enough, but the instructor also delivered an electrical course. Given the dangers of electrics, this was neither good nor safe. It was also unfair on the apprentices who were supposed to be learning in the centre.

Some centres were stripped of equipment in recent years. In Ballyfermot, three houses that had been built and used by apprentice carpenters to learn their trade were knocked down. The carpentry courses in Ballyfermot are due to restart next week or the week after, but half of the equipment is not in place as we speak and is unlikely to be in place when the courses start. The same is true of the painting and motor mechanics courses that are due to start. Although the apparent rush is welcome, this seems chaotic and the part of the job that ensures we have top grade apprentices is not being done right. Funding has not been spent on ensuring that the centres are fully equipped and instructors who can deliver these courses properly are there for the next group of apprentices.

See this speech in context