asked the Minister for Labour if an AnCO centre will be built in Bantry, County Cork: and the steps already taken in preparation for this development.
3.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO Centres.
2.
asked the Minister for Labour if an AnCO centre will be built in Bantry, County Cork; and the steps, if any, taken by the previous Government to establish a centre.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions No. 2 and 3 together. I am satisfied, on the basis of a report I have received from AnCO, that the training needs of the west Cork region can be fully met by the existing and planned facilities in the Cork and Tralee training centres supplemented as necessary by mobile training units and external training and community youth training programmes and that the establishment of a permanent training centre in Bantry would not be justified.
The previous Government adopted a similar approach to represenations made to them during their term of office.
Is the Minister aware that an undertaking was given by the Minister of State, Deputy O'Keeffe, on behalf of the Taoiseach, that an AnCO centre would be built in Bantry and that Deputy Sheehan, in his election addresses throughout west Cork and especially in the Bantry area, broadcast over his loudspeakers that this undertaking would be honoured by the Taoiseach?
I have been given the information from AnCO, who say that the area is being adequately covered and that the extension plans will meet the needs of that region over the coming years.
Is the Minister aware that this was a firm commitment given by the Taoiseach? Is he telling us that the Taoiseach is not prepared to honour that commitment, that he is welching on another promise he gave? Because of his indifferent attitude to the intelligence of the people of west Cork, did he give this commitment without having any intention of honouring it? The Minister said there were no grounds for having an AnCO centre at Bantry. Is he standing by what the Taoiseach said?
I can only repeat what I have said. AnCO consider the area is covered by Cork or Tralee and the extensions being carried out will adequately cover the region.
Is the Minister aware that no youths from Cork south-west have been trained in the Cork AnCO centre for quite a long time. Letters returned to these young people from that centre saying they cannot be accommodated in Cork are causing a great deal of frustration. In view of the fact that Bantry is supposed to be an industrialised zone in the south-west Cork area, would the Minister consider investigating the possibility of establishing a training centre in Bantry? Bantry covers a hinterland from Kenmare to the Bandon river and it is impossible for the centre in Cork to accommodate the number of applicants. It is well known that there are no facilities available for the people of that area.
I intend to investigate the allegations made by the Deputy and I will take action if there is any foundation for them.
In view of the number of questions to the Minister about the capital moneys for AnCO training centres will the Minister tell the House if there has been any change in this allocation because the Government have reviewed the capital budget for 1981? Has there been a cutback in the amount of money available for AnCO training centres?
Even though it does not arise on this question I can say that budgetary matters are being considered by the Government and when they are finalised the Deputy will be made aware of any changes that take place, upwards or downwards.
This was one of the platforms used by Coalition candidates in the election.
The Deputy is repeating himself. He mentioned that before.
I am elaborating on it. My colleague was allowed to make a speech on the matter. I do not intend to make a speech but I agree with everything he said. I should like to ask the Minister if he is disowning the commitment given by the Taoiseach to the people of Bantry in relation to the establishment of an AnCO centre in the town?
The Minister has said that he will investigate the matter.
The Minister can investigate until the cows come home.
I have answered the question fully.
I did not hear the Minister's reply.
The Minister answered the Deputy.
Deputy Sheehan went around with a microphone for a week broadcasting that the Taoiseach had promised this AnCO training centre for Bantry during the general election campaign.
The Deputy is most courteous at all times and I would not like to see him being disorderly on this occasion. We must move to the next question.
In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the Minister's reply I wish to give notice of my intention to raise this matter on the Adjournment.
I will communicate with the Deputy.
4.
asked the Minister for Labour if he will ensure that the AnCO training unit at Droichead Nua, County Kildare, will not be closed.
The training unit in Droichead Nua operates out of AnCO's Ballyfermot training centre as a mobile training unit.
Mobile units primarily provide training in production operative skills. They are intended to supplement permanent centres and to provide for short-term needs in areas of smaller population. The units are located in towns where their presence can be justified by the number of likely users at a given time.
The unit in Droichead Nua will continue there in its present form for the time being but it will be liable for transfer to other areas depending on the needs as shown from time to time by changing patterns of unemployment throughout the country or other circumstances such as new industrial developments.
Such apprentice fitter training as was carried out in Newbridge to meet local shortages of fitters in the short-term will in future be carried out at the expanded Tallaght and Ballyfermot training centres as was originally intended. Only in larger centres such as these can full facilities for apprenticeship training be provided.
The Minister has indicated that training facilities will continue in Droichead Nua but is he aware that the powers that be in AnCO, possibly unknown to him, have already made a decision to close down this centre? In fact, it is being run down, machinery is being taken out of it and the manager moved back to Dublin last Monday. Is the Minister aware that the need which resulted in the establishment of the unit in 1978 is greater now? A total of 96 have registered in the Droichead Nua postal district region with Manpower for training and 240 in County Kildare altogether. The Minister indicated that better training can exist in the bigger units such as Ballyfermot but is he aware that the 12 apprentices from this school were the best in Ireland this year and two of them gained first and second places even though Ballyfermot claimed credit for them? Will the Minister make a promise to me that he will have this matter investigated more fully and if he finds what I have said to be true he will retain and extend this facility in Droichead Nua?
As I stated, the training centre will continue as it presently operates in Droichead Nua and as long as the demand remains for it, and if it increases it will be left there. However, apprentice fitter training will be carried on in Ballyfermot.
Will the Minister give me a guarantee that if I provide the material for him to prove that there is a demand among local firms that apprentice fitter training be continued in Droichead Nua — I am not satisfied that the present situation will continue because it is being run down — he will have the matter fully investigated?
Certainly.
In view of the economic situation prevailing at present will the Minister take special cognisance of the big number of people who have lost their jobs in the county in recent years? It is because of that that I ask the Minister to take the indefinite aspect out of his reply and make a special effort to ensure that the centre remains open indefinitely providing full facilities.
I have listened to the Deputies and I am aware of the needs of the area. I will certainly take the points raised into consideration.