Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 19 June 2019

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Fiscal Policy and Budgetary Planning: Discussion

Photo of John LahartJohn Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to ask a supplementary question. We have lost a culture of apprenticeships. I am 54 years of age and that culture was very much alive when I was doing my intermediate certificate and leaving certificate. Up to one third of my classmates left school after the intermediate certificate to take up apprenticeships. They are not a sexy option now for students. That is the first aspect that must be addressed. I do not know if the witnesses have any ideas about addressing that. If they listen to Sean O'Rourke's programme in the third week of August, I am not exaggerating when I say that 99% of his programme post the leaving certificate results coming out will be focused on third level, university and college education and only one minute will be devoted to apprenticeships.

How can we change that culture?