Billy Lawless (Independent) | Oireachtas source

As Senators will know, it is exam time and almost 125,000 students are sitting the junior and leaving certificate examinations, which is an increase on former years. I take this opportunity to wish them well in all their endeavours and exams.

Every year these students will wait anxiously for their results, particularly leaving certificate students, to see if they have the necessary points to attend college or university to follow the courses they want. Each year there is a cohort of students who want to follow a particular career path but do not achieve the points necessary to attend third level education. University is not for everyone and sometimes that expectation is unfairly put on some students. I received a copy of the recent report on work permits and apprenticeships compiled by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation and commend the committee on its work. Apprenticeships have a very important role to play for students who do not see themselves attending university or college for three or four years and would rather learn as they work. The range of apprenticeships has increased in the last number of years in employment sectors, other than craft and construction, into fields such as accounting and financial sectors, property, biopharma and the hospitality and food sectors. I am a huge advocate for skills, trades and manufacturing. An Chomhaire Oiliúna, AnCO, FÁS and now SOLAS have played a huge role in furthering the skills of young people.

In the 1980s, a son of an old friend of mine did a FÁS apprenticeship course on thatching. This young lad, William Cahill, was what I would call a townie but he is now the top thatcher in the United States and works with all the major theme parks. He also has his own reed farm. He is an example of the opportunities that exist for boutique skills. As we reach full employment, apprenticeships will play a valuable role in addressing some of the skills shortages we have today. The Government should seek to incentivise businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, SMEs, to recruit apprentices. It is important that apprenticeships are seen and encouraged as an equally viable option for students as third level education.

I call on the Leader to invite the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to address this House on how the Government will implement the recommendations made by the Joint Committee on Business, Enterprise and Innovation. As many of us here know, including myself, third level education is not for everyone but hard work will always be rewarded.