Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am happy to say that we have had 1,000 additional apprenticeships since Christmas. I had the privilege of being with the ESB as it launched a very ambitious three-year programme for apprenticeships and had many tens of thousands of young people indicating an interest. I know this matter is a very important priority for the Minister for Education and Skills. The Apprenticeship Council of Ireland is now reformed and up and running and there have been invitations to other areas of trade and activity to submit proposals for new apprenticeships.

I know the Minister has received over 80 proposals and she will probably be able to make announcements in some months time, when the proposals have been evaluated. It is a great part of the general recovery in the economy that is spreading out to every family and has our unemployment rate back down at 9.8%, the best that we have achieved since 2009. I look forward very much to the Minister, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, having the apprenticeships Bill before the Dáil later this year.

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