Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps being taken to reach the target of 750 apprenticeships in the public service and Civil Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37601/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Public Service Apprenticeship Plan, jointly published by my Department and the then Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Deliver, and Reform, is a key commitment under my Department’s Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025. It sets a clear roadmap to expand apprenticeship opportunities in the public service, targeting 750 annual registrations by 2025.

Public service sectoral representatives have submitted workplans to increase their apprentice registrations. While there is strong engagement and support for apprenticeships, challenges remain— including with respect to the understanding of apprenticeship in some quarters and persistent perceptions that apprenticeships are less valuable than university degrees.

In June, my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and I updated Government on the Plan’s implementation.

Progress has been made and we are starting to see momentum build. Annual registrations rose from 67 in 2022 to 165 in 2024. Sectors are forecasting 554 registrations in 2025—an almost 240% increase from 2024. While short of the target, this growth reflects the Plan’s impact and the public service’s commitment to embedding apprenticeships.

Importantly, new programmes launched include a Level 8 Social Work and a Level 6 Digital Marketing apprenticeship which provide exciting avenues to increase public sector apprentice numbers.

To support this work, my Department and DPER have launched a range of employer engagement initiatives and published a Practical Guide to Employing Apprentices in the Public Service.

A strong foundation is now in place. Achieving the Government’s ambition will require continued leadership and commitment across all public service bodies. With over 400,000 employees, the public service has a unique opportunity to mainstream apprenticeships as part of workforce strategy and advance diversity and inclusion through apprentice recruitment.

Noel McCarthy (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the work being undertaken by his Department to increase the number of craft apprenticeships nationally, given their importance in meeting national construction and housing retrofit targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37371/25]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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This Government is strongly committed to apprenticeships and has significantly expanded opportunities for students in recent years. This growth is essential to equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to meet national priorities in housing, retrofitting, and infrastructure delivery.

My Department collaborates with key sectoral partners—including SOLAS, the National Construction Training Centre, Skillnet Ireland, and the Education and Training Boards—to boost the supply of construction skills through the existing tertiary education network.

Since the Department’s establishment, investment in apprenticeship training has grown substantially. In Budget 2025, an additional €77 million was allocated, bringing the total apprenticeship budget to €339 million—a 84% increase from €184 million in 2020.

As of today, there are 77 national apprenticeship programmes available in Ireland—25 craft apprenticeships and 52 consortia-led programmes. These span a wide range of industries, including construction-related fields such as Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbing, and Civil Engineering. This marks a 33% increase in programme offerings since 2020, with further expansion currently underway.

Investment in craft apprenticeships has been particularly impactful for the construction sector and national housing targets. Annual registrations in craft apprenticeships have risen by 63%, from 4,377 in 2020 to 7,113 in 2024. Over the same period, the total number of apprentices in construction and related fields has grown by 45%, from 17,183 to 24,974.

To further support this momentum, my Department launched the Careers in Construction Action Plan in August 2023. This initiative promotes careers in construction, with a particular focus on encouraging participation among girls and women through peer-to-peer campaigns.

This Government remains committed to ensuring that the apprenticeship system is robust, responsive, and ready to meet the evolving skills needs of Ireland’s economy.