Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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982. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expected publication date of the updated careers in construction action plan. [51697/25]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I would like to thank Deputy O’Connell for her question and her continued interest in the Careers in Construction Action Plan. The original Action Plan, launched in 2023, was developed in response to departmental research which identified key barriers to entering the construction sector, particularly for women, young people, and other underrepresented groups. These barriers included perceptions that construction lacks flexibility, clear career progression routes, and that the sector is not sufficiently inclusive.

This plan set out 20 targeted actions under the themes of structural, promotional, and training and upskilling. Key progress to date includes:

• A 9% increase in the construction workforce (from 161,300 in Q4 2023 to 176,000 in Q4 2024);
• A 12% increase in construction and construction related apprenticeship registrations (from 5,628 in 2023 to 6,319 in 2024);
• A 58% increase in the number of women working in construction (from 11,400 in Q4 2023 to 18,000 in Q4 2024);
• First preferences in Architecture and Construction courses up 22% in CAO First Round in 2025.
• Delivery of inclusive leadership and mentoring initiatives by partners such as CIF and Engineers Ireland;
• Expansion of Safe Pass training for underrepresented groups, including Ukrainians and women;
• Launch of the Building Heroes campaign, which has reached over 7 million people with more than 27 million impressions;
• Development and distribution of a Careers in Construction video documentary to all second-level schools;
• Enhanced second-level engagement, including an iVET transition year taster module.

• Embedding Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) into education and training pathways in line with this Department’s new MMC Action Plan
• Piloting construction training in prisons
• Exploring parent-focused flexibility initiatives