Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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3429. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprenticeship courses which have been cancelled this year broken down by ETB. [44432/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Through ongoing engagement between SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards (ETBs), a funding pressure was identified for the 2025 apprenticeship budget.

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.

I 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 and I am prioritising resources to meet the increased pressure in 2025.

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.