Vol. 525 No. 5
160 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps her Department has taken to address the shortage of skilled and unskilled labour in the construction industry; if she has sought to address the problem through the FÁS Jobs Ireland Campaign; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25793/00]
The expert group on future skills needs has established a sub-group to examine supply and demand in professional, craft and non-craft skilled/semi-skilled sectors of the construction industry. The sub-group is chaired by a member of my Department and has representatives from the Department of the Environment and Local Government, training and education providers, the Construction Industry Federation and the trade unions. The sub-group is expected to report to the expert group early in the new year with its findings and any recommendations arising.
The standards-based apprenticeship system is the principal source of provision of craft skills for the construction sector. Some 73% of the current apprentice population of 22,500 are employed in the construction sector. The intake of apprentices has risen sharply over the last five years and training provision in FÁS and in the institutes of technology has increased significantly in this period.
In addition, FÁS has developed traineeships for a number of non-craft occupations in the construction sector and this is complemented by a skills certification scheme for those who have acquired skills through working in non-craft occupations in the sector.
