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

Apprentices have been clear that they feel forgotten by this Government. We have seen how the large waiting lists for off-the-job training impacts on their ability to earn. Large numbers are dropping out and now we have figures that prove only a small minority in the craft apprenticeship sector are finishing in the standard four year period. If we suddenly saw that people on four-year degrees in law, engineering or commerce were now taking five, six or seven years to complete their degrees there would be ructions in here. Heaven and earth would be moved to rectify it. It is simply not good enough that only 16% of plumbing apprentices and 25% of electrical apprentices are completing their apprenticeships in four years. When will there be an urgency to this? When will apprentices finally get the support they need from this Government?

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