Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On the final issue raised by the Deputy, the logistics supply chain group is working with all stakeholders to consider, and ensure movement is happening on, issues within the logistics and supply chain sector. That includes the skills shortage. It involves working with the third level sector and raising awareness of the apprenticeships in Institute of Technology Sligo and the technological universities in Cork and Dublin, as well as communicating the courses and careers that are available. That work is ongoing. We are working with the Department of Social Protection on recruitment drives to attract hauliers here and to encourage Irish people to engage in these apprenticeships.

The cost of fuel is a key crisis at the moment. I have been engaging constantly with the IRHA, which has been very proactive and constructive with me and departmental officials to try to find a solution. There is no lack of will but these things will take time. Given the impact of Covid and what is happening in Ukraine, the crisis is evolving. The Deputy can be assured that engagement will continue and we will try to find a solution to support the sector. That is something on which I am very much working.

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