Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)
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1899. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices who started their apprenticeships, by type, in each of the years 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10733/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The number of apprentices who registered for apprenticeships, by type, in each of the years 2023 and 2024, is provided in tabular form below.

The number and variety of apprenticeship programmes has also increased. At the end of 2020, the year in which the Department was established, there were 58 national apprenticeship programmes – 25 Craft programmes and 33 Consortia-led programmes. At present, there are 77 national apprenticeship programmes – 25 Craft programmes and 52 Consortia-led programmes. This represents a 33% increase in the overall number of apprenticeships since 2020, with more due to come online in 2025.

My department secured a significant investment of €77.4 million into the apprenticeship system in Budget 2025. This represents the single largest investment in core apprenticeship funding since the formation of my department in 2020.

It remains my department’s priority to maintain this momentum, to continue growing the apprenticeship system and to ensure that there are enough training places for current and future skills needs.