Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy could not have known when he submitted his question that I would make an announcement this morning but I am pleased to say that I have just given approval for a major expansion of apprenticeship provision in the Dundalk Institute of Technology, DkIT. A total of 390 additional apprenticeship programme places will be provided there under a programme that will see the refurbishment of vacant space within the P. J. Carroll buildings. I want to congratulate DkIT whose new president, Dr. Diarmuid O'Callaghan, has very much welcomed this announcement. In his comments this morning, he said that he believes this will solidify DkIT's commitment to providing for and responding to the regional and national need for training in the in-demand craft system. I am very much looking forward to that project progressing.

Of course, as the Deputy Ó Murchú will be aware, this comes on the back of a very significant expansion in apprenticeship programmes in the Louth and Meath region. Louth Meath Education and Training Board, LMETB, is providing education and training services to more than 30,000 students. LMETB had a total of 2,339 apprentices registered at the end of 2023 in various programmes, including hairdressing, network engineering, ICT software development, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, pipe fitting, electrical, tool making, motor mechanics, metal fabrication and wood manufacturing and finishing. LMETB established the Advanced Manufacturing and Training Centre of Excellence, AMTCE, in Dundalk in 2021. The Deputy will also be aware that last year I launched the Drogheda apprenticeship training hub, which provided for a very significant expansion of apprenticeships. Drogheda has 336 additional places, while Dundalk has 390 additional places.

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