Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this timely and important debate. Today, we have effectively reached full employment in the State, which is remarkable considering the years of the pandemic and the very many difficulties facing the world. This in itself presents a massive challenge because while we have effective full employment, there are clear skills and labour shortages in a number of extremely important sectors. This is why this scheme and the apprentice scheme in general is so important in alleviating these labour shortages and ensuring full employment does not mean our economy regresses.

The importance of this scheme is evident. The aim is to have 10,000 people in apprenticeships by 2025. That 8,500 people are in apprenticeships this year is a good start and a good sign. We are seeing very progressive companies and employers engaging in this in the knowledge that having apprentices is a benefit. It is not just to ensure they are trained, educated and tooled, but also that they can play their part in a functioning workforce.

I fully agree with Deputy Bruton that the laggards in this regard are many of the public sector and traditional employers which are not embracing apprenticeships in the same way. We must ensure apprenticeships are put on the exact same pedestal and there is genuine equality of opportunity for all, be they school-leavers or people who are transferring between careers, to make sure we embrace the sorts of skills and trades we need. We are moving past the traditional construction skills apprenticeships, of which there is a dearth, and I particularly welcome the announcement today by the Minister, Deputy Harris, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, on addressing the serious shortage of hauliers and people working in the hospitality sector, healthcare, life sciences and so many other areas.

It is important that we do not just look at making apprenticeships far more accessible for school leavers. I welcome the new format of the CAO and that it will be so much easier for people to consider an apprenticeship at the same time as considering a course in a university. We must also consider those who want to move career or need to be encouraged to change career. I am aware of many people, both anecdotally and in my own circle, who completed a university course and went into a profession, perhaps as a result of misplaced encouragement by their parents or a guidance counsellor or teacher in school who assumed they must do a university course, and after ten years of career dissatisfaction have taken the opportunity to move into a far more rewarding career. They need the opportunity to come into an apprenticeship later in life, bearing in mind the skills they have from a previous vocation or training, and use that to give them an edge. This will make sure we have not only 18- and 19-year-olds going into apprenticeships but also people who are older and are prepared to change careers or are at a different stage in their careers and want to go into something totally different. That area is crucially important in this also.

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