asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that the present position relating to boys, who possess day group certificates and who are seeking apprenticeship to specific trades, is most unsatisfactory in that it places upon the particular boy or his parents the onus for obtaining a suitable vacancy; and that most such boys or their parents are in no position to find suitable vacancies; and if he will take steps to set up adequate machinery, either by regulation or legislation, to resolve this most unsatisfactory situation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of Apprentices.
60.
A special register of boys seeking apprenticeships is maintained in the employment exchanges and boys registering are put in touch with employers who have notified vacancies for apprentices. This facility, which is available free of charge, is not fully availed of and experience shows that many arrangements about apprenticeships are made without calling on the exchange. The official service would, of course, be improved if all boys seeking apprenticeships and all employers with vacancies for them used the exchange. It is my policy to encourage them, not to force them, to do so.
The Minister appreciates, I am sure, that I am not suggesting that there is any means whereby this problem can be solved by coercion but does he not consider that by a policy of more widespread advertising of the function of the Apprenticeship Board, and so on, it might be possible to make this thing work more successfully? Does he appreciate that it is unreasonable to expect the parents of the boys in cases such as this to find the vacancies? The only people knowing of such vacancies would, naturally, be the employers. Does he not think that some special effort should be made to ensure, as far as is humanly possible, that employers will notify his Department and some of the branches of his Department of such vacancies? This can best be done by widespread propaganda and advertising.
The Deputy may not make a speech.
I think it will be possible to encourage people to use the employment placement service.
Have you plans to do this?
Yes.
61.
asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware that apprentices employed by companies (names supplied) in Shannon have not fulfilled the requirements of An Chomhairle Oiliúna; and that consequently they cannot be recognised as skilled tradesmen when they have completed their apprenticeship; and if he will ensure that the requirements of An Chomhairle Oiliúna are complied with in so far as such apprentices are concerned.
I have made inquiries from An Chomhairle Oiliúna and I am advised that, in the case of one of the companies covered by the question, the apprentice requirements are being met and that the other company does not employ apprentices.
The remaining Questions will appear on tomorrow's Order Paper.