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.

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.