Aisling Dolan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Our new Taoiseach and our former Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has been very clear about his focus on the disability sector, which he launched last May, and particularly around the European Year of Skills 2023.

I will leave some time for Mr. McLoughlin to discuss the apprenticeship programme and perhaps a little bit about the further and higher education.

We had the brand new Access to Apprenticeship programme, which is starting in Athlone. The ITs in Athlone and Limerick, for example, have come together for the Technological University of the Shannon. We are seeing all of these new technological universities, TUs, across the country which offer great access at local level in smaller towns as well as cities. Is Mr. McLoughlin familiar with the Access to Apprenticeships programme? It is a 12-week programme that gives people a chance to have a taste of what an apprenticeship is like. If Mr. McLoughlin was talking to a young fellow or girl coming out of school or perhaps in fifth year or transition year, what would be the two or three things he might say, not to me but to them, about why this might be a good fit for that person or why they should check it out? I am trying to promote this now in places like Roscommon and Ballinasloe and I am saying to young people and their parents, in particular, that we have this 12-week taster course in Athlone for the first time ever and it starts in September. I ask them to think about it and go along to the open day. What would Mr. McLoughlin say if he was talking to such people?