Dr. Anne-Marie Butler:

We are delighted to be able to launch the apprenticeship programme. It dates back to 2018. It is a new departure in land-based apprenticeships. To give the numbers as of today, 23 sports turf apprenticeships commenced in Kildalton College. Those apprentices are in on their two-week block release from right across the country. The Botanic Gardens welcomed ten horticulture apprentices in landscaping. That is its stream. Our level 7 course, which is the farm manager programme, will commence on 4 December. As of today, there are ten approved apprentices, but this is very much a live list, with many SOLAS authorising officers still to complete the process. On the level 6 course, the technician programme, we have seven apprentices currently. I was at a meeting in Portlaoise this morning with the stakeholder group and I learned there are eight potential apprentices in a waiting-room situation. That apprenticeship programme will commence on 13 December.