Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree fully with the Deputy about the need to continue to promote apprenticeships. We have done this in a number of ways. For the very first time, leaving certificate students, when they go onto the CAO website, cao.ie/options, now see all their options, including apprenticeships, not just the university route. I always say to students about this place, so I will say it to the face of everyone here, that we always talk about building more houses in here. If every Member of the Dáil got together, we probably would not build one house between us. We need to make sure that younger people and not-so-young people get the opportunity to become the bricklayers, electricians, plasterers, plumbers and carpenters we need to address housing and the green skills needs of our economy. The employer grant has also been transformational. You cannot have apprentices without employers. This year we will also have a focus on public sector employers. The public sector cannot just keep lecturing the private sector. We need every county council and every Department taking on apprentices. We now have a lot of capital to expend on expanding this.

As for the detail, I would need to defer to the director, Dr. Mary-Liz Trant. We have given her the €1 million, she has been appointed to the role and she now needs to do her workforce planning. What I can tell the Deputy is that whatever she needs to make a success of this will be forthcoming from the Government.

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