Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I wish to thank the Minister for incorporating apprenticeship into third level as it is very important provision. However, there is a severe lack of electricians, plumbers, carpenters, blocklayers, plasters and mechanics in all the trades. There are severe shortages of skilled drivers for machinery excavators, bulldozers, dumpers and lorries. School bus drivers are hardly to be got at all. I am appealing for the Government to go harder at this because we need a skilled, trained workforce in all areas including building houses or commercial premises. We need more young people coming into this. There is €3,000 for employers until December but it is not adequate. We need that to continue further into the future.

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