asked the Minister for Labour if, in view of the information given to the Dáil over the past weeks that so many necessary articles are not manufactured in the State or are not available at a quality or price suitable to the purchaser, he has drawn the attention of AnCO to this situation; and if he has directed that training schemes be established to meet those needs.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Non-Irish Goods.
9.
AnCO are in a position to respond to the training needs of manufacturing firms, including training to up-grade skills for such purposes as re-equipment, development of new products and improvement of production. AnCO maintain close contact with industry with regard to training needs. There is also continuous consultation with the IDA, SFADCo, and Gaeltarra Éireann in the planning of programmes.
It is the aim of AnCO to ensure that the level of skill of the Irish workforce is comparable to that of workers in countries with which we compete. To this end the training programmes of AnCO are continuously monitored as to their relevance to the needs of existing as well as of new industries.
This year our programme of training has again been expanded and the number of trainees will approach 1 per cent of the labour force—a target originally set up for 1978 was now to be achieved in 1976.
Does the Minister feel that this will fill in the gaps which have been shown to exist in Irish industry and Irish manufacture?
The whole objective of the training programme, the training authority and the reason we have been expanding it in recent years is to ensure that in the recovery period 1977-78 we are not short of the skilled manpower that we were short of in previous recovery periods. We should be able to achieve that if we keep to the present training programme.
(Interruptions.)
How has the Minister assessed the needs of the 1977-78 recovery period he mentioned? What plans have been prepared and what progress has been made in acquiring further accommodation for the overcrowded AnCO developments all over the country?
That relates to the capital programme of AnCO. We have already announced plans for the provision of additional facilities throughout the country this year. As for the evidence of recovery I would recommend to the Deputy the recent OECD report which gives figures for the various economies with which we are competing. These figures show an upturn already occurring this year and certainly a significant increase next year.
(Dublin Central): Will the Minister tell me if we are still going down?
The January employment figure, seasonally adjusted, is lower than the October figure. I am sorry if it does not please the Deputy to find out that the economy is already on the mend.
(Interruptions.)
Order.
Would the Minister indicate the new skills and the new areas being covered? Would he indicate specifically what skills he is talking about and for once give us something positive in the House?
As the Deputy knows, the new apprenticeship system is coming into operation in September of next year. It has been talked about for many years. The plans for that have already been announced. The arrangements are in course of preparation. There will be an entirely new apprenticeship system and course in this country from September on which will reduce the period of apprenticeship. It will also improve, we hope, the quality of the courses offered. As the Deputy knows, the intentions in that area have been around for a long time. We move forward to the practice of them in September again with the idea of ensuring that our skilled manpower is up to the needs of the economy.
(Interruptions.)
Deputy Fitzgerald, the last question was supposed to be your final supplementary.
Perhaps the Minister did not hear my question. I asked him if he would indicate the new skills being catered for.
The Deputy has already asked that question.
It was not answered.
As the Deputy knows, there are seven designated trades for the apprenticeship system and he also knows that the training authority work on the basis of company training programmes in which we draw up programmes suitable to each company's needs and their estimate of their future range of products and the skills needed for them.