Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A key Government priority is to increase the number of people employed in the construction sector. This is essential to the Government meeting its ambitious targets under Housing for All. The CSO Labour force survey of Q3 2023 shows when compared with pre-Covid levels of Q4 2019 the total employment in the sector has grown by 20,400 (+14%). DFHERIS works with sectoral partners to increase skills supply through the current network of skills provision available across the tertiary education system in order to tackle climate and housing issues. There is a significant expansion of the education and training pipeline for construction-related courses.

Development processes are in place for employers/sectors who wish to assess the potential for new apprenticeships. Two new construction apprenticeships, Civil Engineering Technician (Level 6) and Civil Engineering (Level 7) were launched in 2023.

In recent years, annual intake in construction and construction-related apprenticeships has steadily increased. As of the end of December 2023, there have been 4,946 registrations on construction programmes and 848 registrations on construction-related programmes (5,794 in total). Overall that is a 3% increase of registrations on 2022’s figures. In 2023 the construction and construction related apprentice population has surpassed 20,000 for the year, again an increase on 2022 figures. Increased funding for apprenticeships increases the total capacity of the apprenticeship system and will reduce the time that apprentices wait for training. Budget 2024 provides €67m (€57m in core funding and €10m temporary) which will provide core investment into the apprenticeship system, and allow craft apprenticeship to continue to grow.

In August 2023, DFHERIS published the Careers in Construction Action Plan. The 20 actions in the plan are aimed at minimising barriers to construction careers, promoting career opportunities and making construction jobs more attractive to women. This involves changes in the sector, training and upskilling, and promotional activity. To assist in the promotional goals of the Action Plan, funding has been granted for a number of initiatives under the 2024 Housing for All Implementation Fund including a peer-to-peer campaign to recruit young adults to the sector.

In terms of innovation, the greater adoption of MMC is expected to lessen the projected increased need in labour demand. DFHERIS is working with partners to advance a coherent approach to its adoption through innovative initiatives such as the National Demonstration Park for MMC, which is being developed at the National Construction Training Campus at Mount Lucas.