Mr. Hugh Ahern:

A module could be offered in transition year to encourage apprenticeships at junior certificate level because I do not see space for them. It could also be included in first year. Apprenticeships could also be encouraged in primary school because they need to be encouraged much more. Colleges hold open days to attract students. They will do anything to attract students to the college. To encourage apprenticeships, schools could have guest speakers from certain trades, such as someone from an electrical background, a plumber and people from similar trades.

The public service recruitment service has launched a section to encourage students to consider a path in the public service. Perhaps one of the Departments could do something similar and set up a website that students could access for information on apprenticeships. Currently, this is done by word of mouth and you have to know people. Apprenticeships are not promoted much; colleges are promoted more.

The Department and the CAO could develop a specific option whereby students who want to do an apprenticeship would only have to sit certain subjects instead of having to sit all subjects. Someone who wants to do carpentry probably does not need Irish as much as woodwork or maybe business. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Skills and the Department of Education could look into creating a specific examination to encourage people to do an apprenticeship. These ideas are off the top of my head so I do not know how great they are.