Aidan Davitt (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to welcome the Minister of State. He is a hard-working Minister and well known to this House. I have discussed this with the Minister of State already and am delighted he agreed to come to the House to flesh out the figures and the details. There has been a concern that there are not enough places in some of the courses at present, or qualified staff to teach these apprenticeship courses. It seems to be an issue. They are the two big concerns I am hearing.

I am well aware of how the apprenticeship scheme works. We have had several apprentices through our hands over the years. It has always been a great system, particularly in the auctioneering sector. Nearly anyone who got through the system went on to achieve good things in their line of business. It allowed them to work and earn some money at the same time. They gained vital experience on the job, which I firmly believe is the best way to learn. The Minister of State might be able to enlighten us about the teachers or lack of same and the placements or lack of same.