Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

From a Sinn Féin point of view, apprenticeships are something we have been pushing for a long time. I believe the Minister and the Minister of State get it, but there is a difference between getting it and delivering it. I think they understand the cultural shift that is needed, as well as the fact that significant policy shifts are needed. The Minister, Deputy Harris, touched on it himself earlier: some of the most significant challenges exist not only among young people themselves leaving school but also among their parents. I refer to the snobbery that exists. I have made the point previously that there are many schools across this State where too few young people are going to third level but there are also schools where there are too many going to university because there are young people in schools where the expectation culturally that they go to university means that people who would be far better suited to either further education or apprenticeships are missing out on that opportunity. That is certainly something that needs to be acknowledged.

I will quickly flag what I believe are some of the most significant challenges. One relates to instructors. In some of the areas where apprenticeships are most in demand, for example, electrical engineering, instrumentation and some forms of plumbing apprenticeships, because the pay in the private sector is so much more attractive than it is for an instructor in an ETB centre or technological university, it is very difficult to attract people. That is a huge challenge.

I recognise that progress has been made in that regard but the backlogs are still significant. I also want to flag that for a lot of smaller employers, block release is a challenge. It makes sense in some circumstances, but we need to consider more flexibility, for example, a choice between block release and having a day per week. I agree with Deputy Bruton's point that local authorities and other public bodies need to do much more. There is far too much reluctance to take on apprenticeships.

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