asked the Minister for Labour the number of welders trained and retrained by AnCO over the last four years; the number trained in advanced welding techniques; and if he is satisfied that adequate numbers of properly trained welders are available at present for the schemes in progress in Cork Harbour.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Training of Welders.
18.
Over the past four years AnCO has trained or retrained 3,360 persons in welding techniques; 85 of these were trained in advanced welding techniques. The NMS are satisfied that the vast majority of welding jobs arising in Cork Harbour will be filled by Irish personnel.
Can the Minister tell the House the projected number of welders who have been trained in advance welding techniques and who will be needed in the country in 1978, particularly in those heavy projects along the south coast?
I do not have the global figures for 1978. The training authority tell me that it is very difficult to match the supply and demand for this highly skilled kind of worker but they are satisfied that their present training programme for advance welders will ensure that the majority of all these jobs will be filled by Irish personnel.
Would the Minister care to estimate?
I would not but I can look for more exact figures.
Would the Minister accept that approximately 580 will be needed for 1978? Will the Minister tell the House how many AnCO expect to train in advance welding techniques in 1977 and 1978?
I will get the exact figure for the Deputy. AnCO in their southern region have provided for a further 30 places for advance welding. I do not have the global figures for the entire southern region but I will try to get this information for the Deputy.
Would the Minister accept that he should have got this information a number of years ago? Had he done so we would not now have reached the critical situation that exists. We have already quite a number of people who are non-nationals employed there simply because the supply of home personnel qualified in advance welding is not there.
It is not quite as easy as the Deputy tends to suggest, to match supply and demand. A lot depends on developments which may or may not occur. The training authority who are immediately in charge of the training programme are satisfied that their programme will meet the needs in this area. The NMS agree with the estimate of the training authority. For the exact forecast figures for the entire region I shall contact the training authority.
How can the Minister make such a statement when, firstly, he does not have the figures available to him for 1978 and, secondly, when he says that 30 places are available for people to be trained in advance welding techniques? How does the Minister expect that training at the rate of 30 per period can meet the urgent needs in the south?
That would seem to cast doubt on the Deputy's own forecast of 500. It might seem to indicate that his figure is not as certain as he thinks. The training authority feel that their own figures are nearer the mark of the demands. I would cast doubt more accurately on the Deputy's forecast if I had the figure from the training authority.
Either the Minister is not doing his research or he is being misled, just like the advertisement.