Ms Meadhbh Costello:

A number of bursaries are already in place but I am not sure how aware people are of the different supports they can access. There may be three different bursaries that people can access currently to support their entrance to apprenticeships. There is an access and inclusion bursary for people from underrepresented communities. There is a Traveller apprenticeship incentivisation programme also available, as well as an apprenticeship bursary for care-leavers, which was trialled in the past. Perhaps we can examine how to expand some of the supports that are available in those individual bursaries. I would also look at, for example, pre-apprenticeship programmes. An excellent programme was organised by TU Dublin. It had success in helping people from underrepresented communities, the homeless community, etc., to access apprenticeships. Expanding programmes such as that across our technological university sector would be welcome.

On female apprentices, we have seen some positive progress, particularly when we look at high-profile figures, such as the Rose of Tralee, who is an apprentice electrician. The national apprenticeship office has done a lot of good work in trying to reach out to secondary schools. It is about a cultural change. It may take a bit more time but promoting those high-profile figures within our apprenticeship system is key.