Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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885. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures he is taking to address the shortage of tutors for phase 6 pipefitting apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14090/25]

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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886. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of pipefitting apprentices currently affected by the delays and expense of extended studies due to only one tutor operating at phase 6 level in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14091/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 885 and 886 together.

Pipefitting is a craft apprenticeship programme that takes four years to complete, with off-the-job training phases delivered through Education Training Boards (ETBs) and Technological Universities (TUs).

Munster Technological University (MTU) is currently the sole provider of phase 6 off-the-job training for pipefitting at its Bishopstown campus.

At the end of February 2025 there were 414 pipefitting apprentices nationally, of which two were waiting for phase 6 off-the-job training.

SOLAS have advised that these two apprentices completed their phase 5 on-the-job training within the last four to five weeks, at which point they joined the national waiting list for phase 6 training, and that these apprentices are not currently delayed in their training.

In response to increased demand, MTU has boosted its capacity to deliver phase 6 pipefitting training from 32 places in 2019 to 48 in 2024.

In 2024 a small team of lecturers equating to two - three whole time equivalents delivered three intakes of pipefitting training with 16 apprentices in each intake.

In 2025 there is capacity to continue delivering 48 pipefitting phase 6 training places.

MTU are actively working with SOLAS to monitor training capacity and ensure sufficient supply of apprenticeship training places.