asked the Minister for Labour if he will investigate the prospect of locating an AnCO training centre in North Tipperary.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - AnCO Training Centre.
24.
The training needs of North Tipperary are served by the AnCO Training Centres at Limerick and Shannon where there are 422 training places in a wide variety of adult and apprenticeship courses which will allow some 1,400 persons to be trained during 1978. In addition, special courses are provided by AnCO from time to time, as required, in mobile centres and vocational schools in various towns in North Tipperary.
I am satisfied that the training needs of the area are at present adequately met by the existing arrangements.
While I accept the Minister's report as being adequate in covering the needs of the region, would he not agree, in view of the fact that Limerick and Clare have separate AnCO training centres, that North Tipperary, which forms part of the mid-West region with Limerick and Clare, is not being fairly treated, that there should be a permanent AnCO training centre there either in Nenagh or Thurles?
When the Deputy says that North Tipperary is being treated unfairly I think he is referring to the location rather than that they are not being fairly treated in Limerick and Shannon. I understand the Deputy's concern, that he would like to see a training centre in his country. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate that it is probably from the courses available in both the Shannon and Limerick centres—and the availability of mobile training or part-time training in some towns in North Tipperary—that a better service is available in the area as a result.