Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has a green skills programme under way to help ensure we have the best chance of getting people available to deliver our retrofitting programme. I have an update in respect of where we are with our overall apprenticeship programme. As regards construction, we now have 8,286 total apprenticeship registrations and our total construction apprenticeship has grown to 19,550. The Deputy will be aware that the CAO options portal has been amended to include applications for traineeships. We are making progress in getting the right people together to further support our retrofitting programme. I will get that information from the Minister, Deputy Harris, for the Deputy. I anticipate, however, that a shortage of people to do this work will continue to be a difficulty.

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