Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael)

I wish to follow up on some of the sentiments offered by my colleague, Senator Joe O'Reilly, with regard to apprentices. Thousands of young apprentices half way through their various apprenticeship courses are being let off and left stranded and abandoned. I support the call for FÁS, or whatever agencies, to engage with those apprentices to try to find a way for them to finish their apprenticeships, whether it is through reskilling or retraining on their courses or diverting them into other educational courses. It is not good enough that they are abandoned and stranded. These are young people in their formative years with two or three years of their courses behind them and they are fearful that they cannot finish their apprenticeships. They need urgent help and I am interested to hear the Leader's comments in that regard.

I add my voice of concern with regard to the €1.2 million cuts in Gaeltacht courses. In Waterford, we have a Gaeltacht in An Rinn of which we are very proud. This Gaeltacht has welcomed all and sundry into the community over many generations to partake in its culture and the organisations through which it promotes the Irish language. The community groups, agencies and organisations promoting the Irish language and culture will suffer because of these cuts. They no longer will be able to do what they have always done to promote the Irish language and engage with the wider community, and that is of great concern.

I acknowledge Senator Ó Murchú and the good work of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in all counties North and South and beyond. I do not begrudge it funding and it deserves any funds it receives. The Irish language, however, needs to remain a priority. An Rinn is a jewel in the Irish crown and in Waterford's culture. It has always extended open arms to the outside community to come in and participate in the promotion of the Irish language. That should continue and should be supported by the Government.

I received representations from a constituent on a matter of which I was unaware. A total of 45 people are studying the Arabic language for the leaving certificate, which might surprise some people. However, no text is available for those students to study. Will the Leader take up this issue with the Department of Education and Science? Christmas is approaching and half the school year is gone, and those students have no textbook with which to study the Arabic language. That is a disgrace. I am sure there are others in the same position. I ask the Leader to take up that matter on my behalf.