Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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13. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to liaise with Louth/Meath ETB to increase the number of apprenticeship courses taught by LMETB in Louth and to locate apprenticeship training courses in Drogheda/south Louth, given the huge need for people qualified in trades and to make apprenticeships geographically accessible to a wider pool of people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26185/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is committed to providing a wide range of national programmes that reflect the diversity of the Irish population. Since the formation of my department, investment in apprenticeships has increased by 84% - from €184 million in 2020 to €339 million in 2025.

As apprenticeships are national programmes, apprentices can be called to other counties/regions for training. It is not feasible to offer every apprenticeship at every Education Training Board or Technological University.

Louth and Meath Education & Training Board (LMETB) delivers a broad array of education and training services to over 30,000 students and learners, including apprentices, annually. To date LMETB had 2,357 apprentices registered in 2025.

The Drogheda Apprenticeship Training Hub opened in August 2023 with the creation of 15 new permanent jobs, following an investment of €4.2 million. It is a multipurpose space specifically designed to deliver the craft Electrical Apprenticeship. 294 Apprentices started Phase 2 in 2024. To date in May of 2025, five new classes have started, totalling 98 apprentices.

The consortia led sales apprenticeship is also provided at Drogheda Institute of Further Education, further addressing industry requirements in the region. Other locations nationally for the sales apprenticeship include Cork, Dublin, Kerry, Leitrim, Mayo, and Tipperary.

LMETB also provides eight further craft and three more consortia led apprenticeships across its two training centres in Dundalk, the Regional Skills and Training centre (RSTC) and the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence (AMTCE).

LMETB continues to work in partnership with employers, industry partners, SOLAS and the Department, to scope new opportunities and build upon the successes already achieved.