asked the Minister for Labour if he is aware of the difficulties of employment for second- and third-year apprentices in the electrical trade; and if he will state the number involved and outline his Department's plans for their future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Electrical Trade Apprentices.
13.
Since mid-1974 the national training authority have been notified of a total of 89 electrical apprentices as being unemployed or redundant. Of these 21 were second-year apprentices and 23 were third-year.
In an effort to alleviate the position, the national training authority are providing 12 places in their Dublin training centre for redundant electrical apprentices and intend to provide a number of such places in other centres throughout the country. In addition they have arranged with a number of semi-State bodies to provide training of approximately 12 weeks' duration for 16 of the apprentices concerned. Every effort is being made in consultation with the national manpower service to provide for apprentices not yet placed.
I understood the Minister to state that it only applied to 89 apprentices. Would the Minister accept that the figure is far in excess of that for second- and third-year apprentices?
I must go on the information which we received on inquiry on this question from the training authority. I have given that information to the House.