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

Problems exist with the college placements. For example, one young fellow from Glenflesk has to wait approximately 18 months for a college placement. He and others are finding this disheartening, resulting in some of them giving up on their course, moving jobs and even emigrating. Can something be done to speed up this waiting time, especially in view of the fact that the country is crying out for tradespeople?

When apprentices get a college placement, they find they have to travel mid-term to places such as Waterford or Limerick where there is no accommodation available. Can the Minister of State ensure that night courses be put in place for some of these people to make sure they do not have to travel these awful distances and stay in the trades in which they began their apprenticeship? Otherwise, they will leave the country. This is posing a serious difficulty. Many apprentices are not finishing their apprenticeship. Instead of taking four years, some courses are taking six years or more for complete. This is not good enough.

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