Dr. Mary-Liz Trant:

We have been running a generation of apprenticeship competition at second level for the last number of years and we have very deliberately targeted Youthreach and community training centres as well. I actually started my career working in a Youthreach centre and am so aware of the opportunities and the really focused effort that needs to be put in to provide them. Two of the winners of this year's competition were from Youthreach in Mountmellick, two young men who developed a fantastic entry. They explored all sorts of apprenticeship opportunities, submitted their entry and won the award. We have developed a video and they are going to be on a poster campaign. That will have a very positive impact in that Youthreach centre and also more broadly because it sends a message that these opportunities are available and people should be considering them. There is the option to go straight into an apprenticeship or to do an access-to-apprenticeship course. It is a group that is so important as we build and provide these opportunities for careers.