Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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1244. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of modern methods of construction apprentices hired in 2020 and 2021, in tabular form (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29694/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.

There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes, 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016. Construction related programmes include electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, plastering, painting and decorating and the recently launched scaffolding apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are also in development in roofing and cladding (L5) and advanced quantity surveyor (L9).

Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) is used to describe a range of offsite manufacturing and onsite techniques that provide alternatives to traditional house building. Typical MMC systems include timber frame, steel frame, and precast concrete. The Construction Industry Federation’s report on Modern Methods of Construction can be found here: cif.ie/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/1271-CIF-Modern-Methods-of-Construction-Report-v4.pdf

To clarify, there is no MMC apprenticeship but rather several apprenticeships related to the construction sector. For these specific apprenticeships, a list of construction and green related apprenticeships and registrations for 2020 and 2021 has been attached.