asked the Minister for Labour whether he is satisfied that the present apprenticeship programme is providing the skill needs of the Irish labour force for the years ahead.

There are numerous difficulties in forecasting and providing for future skill needs. The present apprenticeship programme is only one source of skill provision. Given the role of employers and trade unions in the regulation of apprenticeship through AnCO and in view of the close co-operation between the manpower and industrial development authorities, the present apprenticeship programme is in a good position to make a major contribution to providing for the skill needs of the Irish labour force for the years ahead. I am satisfied also that AnCO have the expertise in conjunction with the education authorities to respond to the changing skills requirements of the economy and, in consultation with a number of bodies, to review such needs regularly.

Is the Minister concerned that the recent intake of persons into the apprenticeship programmes shows that more than half are in the motor mechanic trade and the construction industry which, at present, are not likely to be sources of big employment increases in the future? Does he agree that the style of motor mechanics is changing rapidly and that the numbers needed and working methods are likely to militate against vacancies in that area? In view of the recent figures which show that may be up to one-third of persons coming off their first year AnCO apprenticeships are not being placed does he consider that we should shift apprentices into the newer high technology areas rather than the traditional apprenticeships?

In relation to the latter part of the question, the figures the Deputy referred to — the non-placement of one-third from existing courses — raises the question whether AnCO courses are appropriate to the labour needs of the job market: that is reflected in the first part of his question about motor mechanics. The establishment of these courses and the time it takes to run an apprenticeship is not something that can be readily changed and quickly turned around. This goes back to the basic difficulty of trying to forecast labour and manpower needs in a workplace environment which is changing very rapidly, as we have seen over the last three years.

Would the Minister not agree that the present high concentration in the motor mechanic trade and the construction industry is hardly appropriate?

I hesitate to make a specific comment on this aspect of AnCO's work in the absence of detailed information, but I will take it up with AnCO when we are talking about their manpower training policy.