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

With respect to the Deputy, that is total nonsense. To try to present a scenario that we are trying to accrue savings and not invest in apprenticeships or not reform the whole space is simply not the case, and the Deputy knows this. We have 62 apprenticeships up and running, as the Deputy is aware, and we have approximately another 20 in development and approximately another 15 expressions of interest. We launched the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 to 2025, which has a number of key targets in diversity and equality. We have set up and resourced the National Apprenticeship Office and the stakeholder alliance which will support that. There is a great deal happening in this space as the Deputy knows well. We are moving into completely new and unprecedented areas. The Deputy’s presentation is that the house is falling down, on which I simply cannot agree with her. The Deputy’s contribution was more a statement than a question and this is my reply to it.

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