asked the Minister for Labour the number of apprenticeships available to all trades in the Dublin area this year, and the number of apprenticeships filled.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Trades Apprenticeships.
19.
Recruitment of apprentices is in the main a matter for decision by individual employers and, in the circumstances, it is not possible at this stage to indicate the total number of apprenticeships which will be available in the Dublin area this year.
The number of first year apprentices in Dublin city and county area registered with AnCO on 31st October, 1976, was 607.
20.
asked the Minister for Labour if he is satisfied that sufficient efforts are being made to have mildly handicapped people who are anxious to secure apprenticeships to different trades placed as apprentices.
I am not satisfied and therefore a system has recently been introduced whereby AnCO and the National Manpower Service co-operate with the National Rehabilitation Board in assisting mildly handicapped people to obtain apprenticeships in statutory craft trades and in placing in employment handicapped people who have been assessed as being fit for open employment as apprentices.
Can the Minister say when any information will be forthcoming in relation to what has been done? Some people who are slightly retarded have been making efforts to secure apprenticeships but so far they have not been successful. Will they get special consideration if they are over the age for securing an apprenticeship? Will that be taken into account?
The training and placing of handicapped persons is a matter for the Department of Health under our present arrangements. The training authority have been co-operating with the National Rehabilition Board in placing handicapped persons in craft apprenticeships. We have been attempting to ensure that adequate industrial training opportunities will be available for handicapped persons. Earlier this year the training authority initiated pilot industrial training programmes for handicapped people with different disabilities. There is one in Cork, and others in different centres.
The Minister said his Department have been co-operating in securing apprenticeships, but is it not true to say very little success has been achieved? The number of apprenticeships awarded to these people was practically nil for the past two years.
I am afraid the Deputy is giving information rather than seeking it.
I am not satisfied either but, as the Deputy knows, it is an extremely difficult area. We have these schemes in operation. In the Dublin area last year we succeeded in placing something like 15 disabled people in apprenticeships. I agree with the Deputy that our progress in this area has been slow. I am not satisfied with it. Neither, I am sure, are the Department of Health who are primarily responsible.
21.
asked the Minister for Labour the number of applications registered with AnCO and the National Manpower Service for apprenticeships to all trades in the Dublin area this year.
The register of applicants for apprenticeships is kept by the National Manpower Service and not by AnCO. 2,788 applications for apprenticeship have been received by the National Manpower Service so far this year.