Mr. Tony Donohoe:

To respond to Deputy Conway-Walsh's question on apprenticeships, in terms of the supply side, Covid-19 has not helped that. We probably also need talk to the responsible agencies such as SOLAS and Higher Education Authority about it. It is a critical issue in terms of the crafts apprenticeships. I note from the figures in the report we published yesterday that we need 33,000 housing units. Currently, we have approximately 40,000 workers in the sector. We will need 25,000 in the next five years and it will peak at 80,000. Between the Housing for All strategy and the climate action plan we will require a great number of workers in this space. At one level migration might be part of the answer but I would much prefer to see a stimulation of apprenticeship opportunities.

As I say, Covid-19 has probably not helped that. In addition, as Ms Costello alluded to, there is the speed at which they move through the system. There could be some bureaucratic impediments there.