asked the Minister for Labour what progress has been made with the designation of major manufacturing industries under the Industrial Training Act, 1967; and in respect of which industries will the levy-grant system be in operation by the end of this calender year.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Industrial Training.
65.
Four major industrial sectors—textiles, engineering, clothing and footwear and the construction industry—have been designated under the Industrial Training Act, 1967. The total employment in these four sectors is approximately 195,000. Designation of two more sectors—the printing, publishing, paper, and paper products sector and the food, drink and tobacco sector—is in course of preparation. These two sectors employ a further 67,000 persons approximately.
An Chomhairle Oiliúna has decided that, before applying the levy-grant system, it should carry out research to determine the training needs of the industries concerned and demonstrate by pilot schemes how these needs can be met. This research is in hands and a start will be made with the application of the levy-grant system early next year. It is hoped to have the system in full operation by 1972.