Fingal County Council has been instructed to run an apprenticeship scheme to improve the number of badly needed skilled tradespeople in the county.<\/p>\n
The scheme was proposed in a motion in the name of Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins, who was unanimously supported by her fellow council members at their most recent meeting.<\/p>\n
Cllr Hopkins noted that \u201clike it or not, the Council will need to get into the business of building social housing at scale, and I think we should be in the business of employing apprentices.\u201d<\/p>\n
The council executive had objected to her proposal, saying that it was \u201coutside of the remit\u201d of the Development Plan.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Council currently employs no apprentices,\u201d the executive explained in a response to the motion, adding that it is \u201coutside the remit of the Development Plan to provide and facilitate such schemes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere are no plans to run a craft apprenticeship scheme because the Council no longer engages in the breadth of trade tasks necessary to produce well-rounded and fully competent tradespersons on completion of a formalised apprenticeship.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cllr Hopkins, who was supported by her fellow Social Democrats councillor Paul Mulville, said she disagreed with the council\u2019s position given the scarcity of skilled tradesmen and women employed by the council.<\/p>\n
In her motion, she called for a variety of craft apprenticeship schemes, including plumbing, electricians, painting\/decorating, stonecutting\/stonemasonry, carpentry\/joinery, brick and stone laying, pipefitting, plastering and scaffolding.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny person with even a rudimentary understanding of economics would tell you that the Government\u2019s current policy of spending billions on renting and leasing from private landlords and investment funds is unsustainable \u2013 it represents the worst possible value for money for the taxpayer,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is worth mentioning again that over 10,000 people are homeless nationally, including more than 3,000 children. These are actual people \u2013 not just numbers on a report.<\/p>\n
\u201cLast month, I was advised in this chamber that there were delays in bringing a council house back into use because we were waiting for contractors.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis year, we will retrofit 90 out of a total of 8,000 council houses, even though we all know this is not even scratching the surface \u2013 surely that alone would justify a council run apprentice scheme. It would also create employment and help solve the housing crisis and the climate crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot think of a downside to this.\u201d<\/p>\n