James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas leis na Teachtaí as an gceist seo a ardú. I thank the Deputies for raising this important matter.

As the Deputies opposite are most likely aware, SOLAS is the State agency responsible for the further education and training sector. A key part of its remit and duties is to allocate funding to the education and training boards to deliver further education and training programmes, including apprenticeships, in alignment with Government priorities. I prioritised the partnerships, which are critical to the success of many of our national challenges, including construction, but also across the board.

I support the apprenticeship system to the extent of broadening and widening it and increasing the number of courses and occupations that can be accessed through the apprenticeship journey. I am very much committed to that path. I also very much want to support the system and to grow it. However, issues have arisen operationally and that is part of the reason we are having this debate.

Each ETB within the system is responsible for ensuring its activities are delivered within the scope of its allocated funding. Engagement occurs between SOLAS and the ETBs on a regular basis and there are annual reviews. Through the ongoing engagement, a funding pressure has recently been identified for the 2025 apprenticeship budget. This pressure is primarily linked to the cost of State allowances paid to apprentices during their off-the-job training phases. Like the Deputies opposite, I have heard about this both officially and on the grapevine. It is an issue that has emerged very recently.

I assure colleagues that the issue is being taken very seriously and that a pathway forward will be found. SOLAS is currently actively engaged with the ETBs and my Department to identify practical and sustainable solutions. I am taking a very keen interest in the discussions, which are ongoing. I am adamant that a solution must be found.

The demand across the system has grown significantly, especially in the area of craft apprenticeships, with yearly registrations increasing from 5,271 in 2019, up by 35% to 7,113 in 2024. There is an ongoing significant uplift in demand that is placing pressures on apprenticeships. That is a good thing because we want more apprentices in the system, but it does require greater supports and resources to be made available.

Overall, there were 25,000 craft apprentices at the end of 2024, up from 16,000 in 2019. One of the Deputies mentioned the previous backlog in phase 2, which has largely been addressed, but it moves the demand curve up to phase 4. The ongoing pressures have, thankfully, moved through the system, but they are still within the system. The bump is moving along and it is now at the phase 4 stage, which brings its own pressures.

The growth in the system is very welcome. It is also necessary, given the vital role apprentices play, largely in the construction sector, but also in delivering many other key Government priorities such as housing, retrofitting, infrastructure development, energy and in other areas such as telecoms, which are key to our national success.

It is important to acknowledge that there is an inherent complexity in managing a system that is demand-led with a finite funding envelope. Put simply, demand in a given quarter or year can rise or fall, and it can be difficult to accurately predict or model that and then to support and resource it.

The Government has a very strong and sustained commitment to apprenticeships. I wish to make it clear today that no apprenticeship course or class will be cancelled as a result of the current situation. Since the formation of my Department, investment in apprenticeship training has increased by 139% from €142 million in 2019 to €339 million in 2025. There has been more than a doubling of funding. This includes a record €77 million investment as part of budget 2025, the largest ever allocation to the apprenticeship system in the history of the State.

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