Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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464. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will prioritise State supports to ensure the provision of apprenticeships for electricians, plumbers, bricklayers and other tradesmen in the construction sector where it is not financially viable for qualified tradespeople to take on apprentices and where there is a considerable shortage of newly qualified workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9898/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Engagement with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF) is ongoing between officials in my Department and a number of other Government Departments and Agencies to discuss the challenges raised by the CIF in relation to apprentices in the Construction Sector, particularly in the so-called 'wet trades'.

My Department and SOLAS are committed to meeting the off the job training costs arising from apprenticeship registrations, particularly in relation to the construction sector. Following a number of years of decline, the number of apprenticeship registrations in the 27 existing apprenticeship trades is on an upward curve as the employment and economic situation improves. 2014 registrations were up 40% on 2013.