Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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71. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the uptake of apprenticeships across the country in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56029/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Investment in the apprenticeship system has been significant since my department was formed in 2020. To ensure an adequate pipeline of skilled apprentices to support government targets on housing and infrastructure development, €79 million has been invested in the apprenticeship system in Budget 2026, bringing the total current budget for apprenticeship to €411 million. This represents a significant increase of 123% in apprenticeship funding since 2020.

Annual apprenticeship registrations have grown strongly in recent years from 6,177 in 2019 to 9,352 in 2024. This 51% increase provides a strong foundation for achieving the Government's target of 12,500 new apprentice registrations annually by 2030, with two-thirds of these in craft and construction-related programmes.

As of September this year, there have been 6,676 apprenticeship registrations. It should be noted that in 2024 the last four months of the year were the strongest period for apprenticeship registrations - 45% of all registrations for the year took place in this period.

A key goal set out in the Apprenticeship Action Plan 2021-2025 is for apprenticeship to be recognised and valued by employers in many sectors of Ireland’s economy as a key route to recruiting a highly skilled workforce. At present, there is a total of 78 national apprenticeship programmes, 25 of which are Craft Apprenticeships and 53 of which are Consortia-Led programmes. These 78 apprenticeships cover a diverse assortment of career paths, ranging from Cybersecurity to Hairdressing.

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2026–2030 will be launched next year, delivering on a key commitment in the Programme for Government. The investment announced in Budget 2026 will support the apprenticeship system's ability to meet current and future skills needs over the next five years. Stakeholder consultations on the new Plan are scheduled to commence shortly.