asked the Minister for Labour the action he proposes to take in conjunction with the Minister for Education to increase the training of (a) fitters, mechanics and mechanical production and industrial engineers, as these were shown to be the occupations with the largest vacancy levels in a recent National Manpower Service survey of industry and (b) bricklayers, carpenters and other woodworkers, which are occupations with high vacancy levels in the construction industry.
Written Answers. - Training Facilities.
107.
The Manpower Consultative Committee have, since its establishment in 1978, been monitoring manpower shortages in highly qualified and skilled occupations.
Specific initiatives have been introduced from time to time to alleviate the shortages identified such as in the NMS Survey of Industry. Conversion courses with provision for the payment of maintenance allowances to participants were initiated in 1979. These courses are designed as a short-term measure aimed at graduates and national diploma holders to facilitate their conversion to skills, especially in the engineering field, in short supply in Irish industry. Parallel with this scheme it was arranged with the universities and other third level institutions to expand existing courses and introduce new courses with a view to meeting the shortages in the medium and long term.
AnCO, who have primary responsibility for designated apprenticeships, completed a major study in 1978 to ensure that sufficient skilled workers in the areas covered by statutory apprenticeships are recruited and trained to meet existing and projected needs of the economy. This study included the trades of fitter, motor mechanic, bricklayer, carpenter and other skilled woodworkers and is being continually updated in the light of the demands of the labour market.
AnCO intervene in the apprentice labour market as necessary by directly sponsoring apprentices to counteract shortfalls in normal employer recruitment and to make provision for skilled workers for new industries attracted here by the IDA. AnCO has used its own training centres, training centres in industry and special apprentice schemes to train these additional apprentices. In addition the AnCO/FUE apprentice to craftsman scheme was set up in 1980 to counteract shortages of skilled personnel in the engineering industry. Eighty four apprentices were catered for in the first year. A further 99 were started in October 1981.