Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank every apprentice who is currently working, and they are working throughout the State. They are incredibly important to our economy and society. Irish tradespeople are working all over the world. They are building and helping other countries to grow and prosper. Sadly, many of our current apprentices will take an aeroplane and leave our shores when they qualify. Some will go by choice, and sometimes this is a decision that will enable them to build and develop on their skills. That will always be the case. For many, however, it will not be a choice. It will be due to the cost-of-living crisis and the lack of housing.

We need a massive number of apprentices in the State to ensure we have the capacity to deal with developments in housing and other sectors in the future. Leaving this to the private sector and employers has not worked. The collapse of the so-called Celtic tiger also led to the collapse in the number of apprentices. We are now paying the price for refusing to deal with that crisis, despite Sinn Féin calling for apprenticeships during the austerity years.

The serious cost-of-living crisis is causing a massive problem for so many of our young people who have taken the decision to get a trade. They simply cannot afford to live and work at this time. I know one apprentice electrician who has had a terrible experience over the past two years. This has resulted in him having to live on lower wages for another year. This was not his fault but he is paying the price. He is currently in his fifth year but is only paid as a third-year apprentice. This is simply unfair. The Government has called for more apprentices but this call will fall on deaf ears more and more because people simply cannot live on an apprentice's wages at this time. We need action.

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