Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I will address the Deputy's remarks. She is right with regard to regional skills needs. One of the functions of the new national apprenticeships office will be to identify such needs and to liaise with all relevant stakeholders. The Deputy cited the road haulage industry in that regard. We have seen that the new sector-specific apprenticeships we have developed, led by consortia, are often specific to particular parts of the country. The education and training boards in these parts of the country take on the challenge following demand from the sector within those geographical regions. It is something of which we are very aware and conscious. I note the Deputy's remarks with regard to lowering the age at which one can drive HGVs. That is a big undertaking but it is something we can flag to SOLAS. Other agencies would also be involved, such as the Road Safety Authority. It would require a lot of work but it is certainly something at which SOLAS could look because everything should be reviewed constantly.

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