asked the Minister for Labour if he will ensure that the AnCO training unit at Droichead Nua, County Kildare, will not be closed.

The training unit in Droichead Nua operates out of AnCO's Ballyfermot training centre as a mobile training unit.

Mobile units primarily provide training in production operative skills. They are intended to supplement permanent centres and to provide for short-term needs in areas of smaller population. The units are located in towns where their presence can be justified by the number of likely users at a given time.

The unit in Droichead Nua will continue there in its present form for the time being but it will be liable for transfer to other areas depending on the needs as shown from time to time by changing patterns of unemployment throughout the country or other circumstances such as new industrial developments.

Such apprentice fitter training as was carried out in Newbridge to meet local shortages of fitters in the short-term will in future be carried out at the expanded Tallaght and Ballyfermot training centres as was originally intended. Only in larger centres such as these can full facilities for apprenticeship training be provided.

The Minister has indicated that training facilities will continue in Droichead Nua but is he aware that the powers that be in AnCO, possibly unknown to him, have already made a decision to close down this centre? In fact, it is being run down, machinery is being taken out of it and the manager moved back to Dublin last Monday. Is the Minister aware that the need which resulted in the establishment of the unit in 1978 is greater now? A total of 96 have registered in the Droichead Nua postal district region with Manpower for training and 240 in County Kildare altogether. The Minister indicated that better training can exist in the bigger units such as Ballyfermot but is he aware that the 12 apprentices from this school were the best in Ireland this year and two of them gained first and second places even though Ballyfermot claimed credit for them? Will the Minister make a promise to me that he will have this matter investigated more fully and if he finds what I have said to be true he will retain and extend this facility in Droichead Nua?

As I stated, the training centre will continue as it presently operates in Droichead Nua and as long as the demand remains for it, and if it increases it will be left there. However, apprentice fitter training will be carried on in Ballyfermot.

Will the Minister give me a guarantee that if I provide the material for him to prove that there is a demand among local firms that apprentice fitter training be continued in Droichead Nua — I am not satisfied that the present situation will continue because it is being run down — he will have the matter fully investigated?

Certainly.

In view of the economic situation prevailing at present will the Minister take special cognisance of the big number of people who have lost their jobs in the county in recent years? It is because of that that I ask the Minister to take the indefinite aspect out of his reply and make a special effort to ensure that the centre remains open indefinitely providing full facilities.

I have listened to the Deputies and I am aware of the needs of the area. I will certainly take the points raised into consideration.