Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3410. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for new apprenticeships and the timeframe to have them up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43467/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My department has been advised by the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) that there are some 20 new apprenticeship programmes at various stages of development.

There are ten steps in developing a national apprenticeship, from research and formulating the outline proposal (Step 1), to creating an industrial training order (which is a statutory instrument designating an industrial activity as an apprenticeship – Step 7), to rolling out the programme with employers and apprentices (Step 10). These are set out in detail in the NAO handbook "Developing and Delivering National Apprenticeships in Ireland".

The development of an apprenticeship generally takes 18-24 months, though it does vary on a case-by-case basis.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3411. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for new apprenticeships to be offered in county Louth and the timeframe to have them up and running; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43468/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As of end-June 2025, 479 apprentices were attending training at Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) across the following programmes:

• Accounting Technician,
• Carpentry and Joinery,
• Electrical, Hairdressing,
• Metal Fabrication,
• Motor Mechanics,
• Pipefitting, Plumbing,
• Sales,
• Toolmaking,
• Wood Manufacturing and Finishing.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3412. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to streamline apprenticeship access and training; whether there has been engagement with ETBs and the further higher education sector on these streamlining plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43469/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to improving access to training for apprentices. In 2021, the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) was set up as a dedicated body to promote and raise the profile of apprenticeships among prospective learners.

Progress to date includes the inclusion of apprenticeship options on the CAO website and the launch of the NAO Freephone Advice Helpline, which is a year round service providing information directly to apprentices, employers and other interested parties regarding apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship.ie has also been launched, which is a dedicated one-stop website for apprentices to find employment and for employers to advertise opportunities.

To build on what has already been achieved, my department commissioned market research on how employers and learners interact with the apprenticeship system. The findings of this research will inform the continuing work of Government to streamline access to apprenticeship, along with increasing people's awareness of these options.

In terms of training delivery, the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 outlines the migration of craft apprenticeships onto the consortia-led model. The NAO is currently developing draft proposals to support this transition. A key part of this process involves ongoing consultation with stakeholders including education providers.

I look forward to continued engagement with stakeholders as my Department reviews the current Action Plan and begins development of a new five-year strategy for the apprenticeship system from 2026.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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3413. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an update on the funding issues for SOLAS and ETB’s; the position regarding any delays in apprenticeships or cuts to courses or staff across all aspects of the ETB education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43470/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Demand for craft apprenticeships has grown significantly, with annual registrations increasing by 35% since 2019 from 5,271 in 2019 to 7,113 in 2024. The number of craft apprentices reached 25,000 at the end of 2024, up from 16,000 in 2019. Significant Government investment in apprenticeship over 2024 and 2025 has also unblocked the previous backlog at phase 2 - increasing the overall volume of apprentices now progressing through both Phases 2 and 4.

This growth is both welcome and necessary, given the vital role apprentices play in supporting the construction sector and delivering on key Government priorities such as housing, retrofitting, and infrastructure development.

To support this essential growth, I am prioritising resources to meet the increased pressure in 2025. The Deputy will be aware that I directed SOLAS to work urgently with ETBs to complete detailed scheduling for the remainder of the year. This work is now complete, and SOLAS has been instructed to confirm final apprenticeship funding allocations with ETBs without delay, enabling them to proceed with scheduling and delivery.

I have engaged directly with the SOLAS Board, and my Department has engaged with the SOLAS executive, to ensure that no existing apprenticeship classes will be cancelled.