Naoise Ó Muirí (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

48. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there are plans to introduce apprenticeships into further business sectors similar to the existing apprenticeship in insurance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55610/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am committed to the apprenticeship model of learning. It is a proven pathway to a valued qualification and to employment. Since 2019 the total apprentice population has grown from 17,829 to 29,772 as of the end of last year. This has been matched by an increase in investment from €142m in 2019 to the over €400m earmarked for apprenticeship in 2026.

Since 2016, indeed starting with the insurance practitioner apprenticeship mentioned by the deputy, the model has been made available in an increasingly diverse range of sectors, including business in which there are now nine offerings.

These are in finance, where there are four programmes, including the recently launched level 8 accounting technologist apprenticeship. In sales where there are two, and in property services, recruitment, and insurance, where there is one each.

Registrations in these apprenticeships have grown from 632 in 2021 to 748 in 2024, an 18% increase.

The Government is committed to supporting the apprenticeship model within the civil service to support skill development and recruitment. In line with this commitment a civil and public service Business and Operations apprenticeship at level 6 is currently in development and expected to launch in 2026. This programme will promote an alternative and inclusive pathway to employment in the civil and public sector.

There remains considerable interest in developing new business apprenticeships which demonstrates the continuing relevance of apprenticeship in addressing skills needs in this rapidly evolving sector.

Apprenticeship is a key pillar of the government’s skills strategy and delivers highly skilled workers directly to business. I am committed to growing this skills pathway in the coming years and look forward to setting out my vision for this in the next Action Plan for Apprenticeship which is currently under development.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

49. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to encourage more uptake in apprenticeships in the construction sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55310/25]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I would like to thank Deputy O’Sullivan for raising this important question.

This Government is focused on equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to deliver new housing, drive retrofitting projects, and meet infrastructural priorities under the National Development Plan.

Workers are needed across different skills levels and the apprenticeship model is an invaluable part of the overall tertiary response to these requirements.

This Government is backing that pipeline with action. Through Budget 2026 my Department has secured a €79 million investment in apprenticeships, the highest investment in core apprenticeship funding since the Department’s formation.

Since 2020, we have more than doubled the investment in apprenticeships – increasing funding by 122% - bringing the total annual current budget to over €400 million.

Budget 2026 also baselines €10 million in previously temporary funding, securing long-term stability for the system and ensuring it is on a firm footing to meet current and future skills demand.

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. This underpins the value of this training route at a time of near-full employment and high demand for construction skills.

Recognising the importance of incentivising employers, we introduced an employer grant of €2,000 per year for consortia-led apprenticeships. We also introduced a gender-based bursary of €2,666 which is available to employers who hire apprentices in programmes where there is greater than 80% representation of a single gender.

Next year will see the launch of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2026-2030. A key commitment in the Programme for Government, it will have a headline target of 12,500 new apprentice registrations per year by 2030 and two-thirds of these will be in craft and construction-related programmes.

To further support this momentum, a concerted effort is being made to attract more people into the craft trades through cross-partner campaigns.

Research undertaken by my Department found a lack of knowledge and understanding about the industry and the roles available, a poor perception of the working environment as well as a perception that construction is not suitable for women. In response, the Department is implementing the Careers in Construction Action Plan, which comprises 20 actions that relate to structural, promotional, and training activities to minimise barriers, promote career opportunities, and make construction jobs more attractive to women.

Several key industry and education partners are collaborating with my Department on updating the action plan, with the new plan set to be published in the coming weeks.

Among the actions are several campaign initiatives supported by the 2024 and 2025 Housing for All Implementation Fund. These include the Building Heroes peer-to-peer social media campaign and a documentary on careers in construction for second-level schools, both of which include young role models from the trades. The National Apprenticeship Office is also running the Facts, Faces, Futures campaign which is highlighting the growing participation and leadership of women in apprenticeship.

I am particularly pleased to report that the Building Heroes campaign is going from strength to strength. The first phase of the 2025 campaign, with almost 100 pieces of content across social media, has exceeded targets for engagement with a 23% increase in followers across all platforms. There have been almost 8,000 engagements, an increase of 140% per post compared with 2024. Phase two of this year’s campaign kicked off at WorldSkills.

My Department also works with the Department of Social Protection on the Future Building Initiative. Through the initiative Intreo, SOLAS and Education and Training Boards of Ireland have formed a dedicated cross-functional team to support recruitment and training across the construction sector. The team collaborate closely to drive progress in recruitment for training courses, apprenticeships and jobs.

Together, these activities reflect a broad range of approaches and initiatives aimed at encouraging more uptake in apprenticeships in the construction sector.

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