Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will get the exact number for the Deputy. She will be aware that in the apprenticeship action plan we are setting a target to build 10,000 new registrations per annum until 2025. This is a target in the plan. We can supply these details afterwards to have them circulated to the committee. By way of information I will give an overview of where we are at. The total number of persons enrolled in apprenticeships in 2014 was 6,913. In 2017 the figure increased to 12,851. At the end of 2020 the figure was 19,630. It is positive there has been an increase. It is growing. We have discussed this on many occasions and as late as this week in the Dáil. There is a lot happening. Capacity is being expanded. The response in terms of viewing apprenticeships as a career pathway and an option is becoming obvious to people and is being taken up, which is positive.