Written Answers. - Tourism Training.
22 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11290/98]
Comment on this
25 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11292/98]
Comment on this
32 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11291/98]
Comment on this
39 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11289/98]
Comment on this
41 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11288/98]
Comment on this
43 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will set out the implications for the tourism industry due to the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11282/98]
Comment on this
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 25, 32, 39, 41 and 43 together.
For the 1997-8 academic year, CERT, the State tourism training agency, recruited 3,200 new entrants for full-time and elementary skills programmes, leaving 144 places for first year recruits in the institutes of technology spread over nine colleges and seven craft schools unfilled. Meanwhile, because of the lengthening of the elementary skills programme for the unemployed, from 13 to 16 weeks, to meet national certification requirements, there was a reduction of 400 in the number of places available in the current academic year, on this programme.
The rate of expansion in the tourism industry has been unprecedented in recent years. Last year alone, a total of 51 new hotels were opened with a further 34 due to open this year. Young people are increasingly entering the industry directly, such is the demand for employees. Indeed in this respect, some students have left their studies in favour of employment in the industry.