John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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308. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the labour skills required to facilitate the housing construction programme; the targets set by the Government; if his Department has set goals to achieve these; the number of apprentices presently engaged in the specific skills sets required to help facilitate the objective of the Government's Rebuilding Ireland programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35682/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Alleviating the housing crisis is a cross-Government priority.  My Department worked closely with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government in developing the action plan for Housing and Homelessness, Rebuilding Ireland. 

The apprenticeship system is a major supplier of craft skills to the construction sector. Registrations in the craft trades are rising as the employment and economic situation improves. In 2016 there were 3,742 registrations which represents a significant recovery since the crash. This year the upward trend continues with registrations at the end of June of 2,200 which is almost 40% ahead of the same period in 2016. Annual registrations in the craft trades are predicted to grow to 5,587 over the period to 2020.

SOLAS, through its Skills and Labour Market and Research Unit (SLMRU) and its Apprenticeship Services Unit, regularly conducts forecasts of apprenticeship requirements.  The SLMRU has developed a comprehensive methodology to generate five-year forecasts of apprentice intake for construction trades. The forecasts are revised annually and are due to be updated later this year.  The methodology takes account of output forecasts, in money terms, for various segments of the construction industry, the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and the relationship between apprentice intake and employment trends in the sectors.

Further Education and Training providers also deliver a range of specific skills programmes for the construction sector outside of the apprenticeship system. SOLAS are engaging with the Education and Training Boards to continue to expand provision in identified areas of skills needs.