Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is quite interesting. I think we are all aware of the important role that people who are going through apprenticeships will play and are playing in the future of our society, especially when tackling the infrastructural deficit we have, and the acute housing shortage. It is very important that we get the message out about how positive these jobs are and the availability of them. What does the Minister think is the biggest barrier to us increasing the throughput of apprenticeships and dealing with the backlog? I am aware of the additional instructors that have been hired, whom I understand have been made permanent, since Covid to ensure there is a third input. I am also aware of some of the new capacity that the Minister will be bringing on stream as well. I am contacted a lot by people, especially in electrical apprenticeships, who are concerned because they feel their lives are on hold as a result of waiting for their placements to come through. What does the Minister think the biggest barriers are and how can we address them? Do we need to increase the input of instructors?

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