asked the Minister for Labour when the estimated shortage of 400 bricklayers in the country will be eliminated; if, in determining the number of bricklayers to be trained in a given year a ratio of apprentices to qualified craftsmen is applied; if so, how, by whom, and with what authority such a ratio is applied; if the ratio operates in such a way as to maintain the number of entrants to the trade at below market requirements and job availability; and, if so, the action, if any, he proposes to take.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bricklayer Shortage.
1.
AnCO have advised me that the current apprentice recruitment is such that the present shortage of bricklayers is well on its way to being eliminated through the normal four-year apprenticeship scheme.
The number of apprentices recruited in any one year is determined by the requirements of the trade and by the aggregate of individual recruitment decisions made by employers who have the consent of AnCO to the taking on of apprentices having regard to qualified craftsmen employed and their capacity to train the number of apprentices approved. In assessing an employer's suitability for the training of apprentices the number of craftsmen in his employment is taken into account along with other factors. There is no fixed ratio of apprentices to craftsmen.
When does the Minister expect this estimated shortage of 400 bricklayers to disappear as he indicated it would?
As I said in my reply, I am advised by AnCO that the current apprentice recruitment is such that the present shortage of bricklayers is well on its way to being eliminated.
I heard the Minister saying that.
As well, steps are well advanced in that direction. I am sure that the Deputy will be interested to know that the reasons for this scarcity is the upsurge in activity that took place since the change of Government. As the Deputy will also be aware one does not——
There is an upsurge all right.
There certainly is and this question is proof of it. One does not supply the necessary skills overnight. An indication of the progress being made is that the figure for registered bricklaying apprentices at 31 December 1975 was 687 and the intake in that year was 94. By comparison the figure for registered bricklaying apprentices at 31 December 1978 was 932 and the intake was 214.
Will the Minister answer the question I asked? He has not done so despite the lengthy statement he has made. When does the Minister expect the shortage of 400 to disappear? Will the Minister not agree that the existence of bottlenecks such as this, namely the lack of people to do the skilled work necessary in building is one of the reasons why a lot of the input of money into buildings has resulted in higher prices but not in more houses being built?
I certainly do not agree with that.
It is a separate question anyway.
I agree with the Deputy about the importance of providing for the skills. Because that was not done during the previous administration I have now taken positive steps to ensure that those skills will be available.
When will the shortage disappear?
We are working towards a fast elimination.
When?
Is the Minister aware of the serious problems local authorities are having in recruiting bricklayers and other skilled workers? What action is the Minister taking to rectify the situation as it is having a severe effect on local authority works?
As indicated, I have taken positive action. Being aware of the problem that was arising late last year, I set up the Manpower Consultative Committee, which I chaired, representing both sides of industry together with the Government agencies, covering this and many other skill shortages. We have had many meetings and a lot of progress has been made. Proposals are almost completed to eliminate this and any other shortage.
Question No. 2.
When will it disappear?
We are working towards it. If the Deputy and his colleagues in their time in Government were more active, this problem would not be arising now.
Will the Minister answer the question I asked? When does the Minister expect this shortage to be eliminated? If the Minister has all these plans surely he will know when they will have an effect.
I have explained to the Deputy that I am taking positive steps to eliminate it.
Does the Minister know when that will be?
Yes.
When?
Hopefully as a result of proposals that have been drawn up and are being implemented by the Manpower Consultative Committee.
When will the shortage disappear?
I have explained the position to the Deputy.
The Minister has not answered the question.
I have indeed.
The Minister has not. The people will be the judges of that.
The people were the judges of the Coalition inactivity.
The people will pass judgment on the Minister's Party all too soon.
(Interruptions.)
Order. I have called Question No. 2.
Arising from the Minister's reply——
(Interruptions.)
Order, order.
The Minister indicated that he knew when the estimated shortage of 400 bricklayers would be eliminated but he has refused to tell the House the date when that will happen and I should like to know if he is withholding the information. If that is the case he should give the reason to the House.
I am not withholding any information. I have repeatedly said that I am positively and actively working towards it. I am making progress towards eliminating skill shortages in the trade referred to. I have indicated the number of other areas where such progress is being made. I should like to remind the Deputy that the fact that there are skill shortages indicates a sound, growing and healthy economy. Unfortunately, the building should have been done in previous years. It has been handed to me to do and I am making progress on it. I cannot give a specific date.
The Minister indicate to Deputy Bruton that he was aware of the date when the shortage would be eliminated but he has not answered my question as to why he is not giving that information to the House. Did he make a mistake in telling Deputy Bruton that he knew the date?
I am not in the habit of making mistakes but that would have been the position with some of my predecessors. I hope to be in the happy position to announce the date shortly but a lot of work still remains to be done.
The Minister does not know the date.