Brian Stanley (Laois, Independent)
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52. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to expand the number of apprentice opportunities available to students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25528/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Government has invested significantly in expanding the number of apprenticeship opportunities for students over recent years.

In Budget 2025 €77 million was allocated to apprenticeship, representing the single biggest increase in core funding for apprenticeships since the establishment of this Department. The total current budget for apprenticeship is €339 million, which is a 139% increase in apprenticeship funding since 2019.

At present, there are 77 national apprenticeship programmes available, 25 traditional craft apprenticeships and 52 consortia led programmes ranging from NFQ levels 5 to 10 servicing both the private and the public sector, across a diverse range of industries including ICT, beauty, and logistics. This represents a 33% growth in the number of apprenticeships available in the 5 years since 2020, with more programmes in development.

Of particular importance for our booming construction sector and national targets on housing, investment in craft apprenticeships has led to a 43% increase in craft training places in Education and Training Boards, rising from 5,600 at the end of 2023 to some 8,000 in 2025.

Increased training capacity has supported a 51% increase in annual registrations on apprenticeship programmes, from 6,177 in 2019 to 9,352 in 2024.

Craft apprenticeship registrations have increased by 35% from 5,271 in 2019 to 7,113 in 2024.Consortia-led registrations have increased by 147% from 906 in 2019 to 2,239 in 2024.

This Government is committed to ensuring that the apprenticeship system is well equipped to meet current and future skills needs of the economy.