John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the number of applications received in each of the past five years for work permits in respect of farriers from non-EU States; the number of those applications that have been successful; the number of training places that were available to farriers in each of the past five years; his plans to increase the number of such places; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12571/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The work permits section of my Department will consider granting an employer a work permit for highly skilled and highly paid positions and applications in respect of farriers would have to meet that criteria. The section does not keep figures on the number of work permits issued in respect of specific employment positions at present. FÁS runs a foundation in farrier training local training initiative course at the RACE centre, Kildare town. The number of training places on this course is eight and it has been running once a year for the past three years. There are no plans to expand the number of places available. FÁS is in negotiations with the Irish Master Farriers with a view to converting the course to an apprenticeship.