John Connolly (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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34. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the implementation of the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55561/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Jointly published by my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan is a central pillar of our Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. It lays out a clear and ambitious roadmap to grow apprenticeship opportunities across the public service, aiming for 750 annual registrations by 2025.

Sectoral representatives from across the public service have submitted detailed workplans to boost apprentice intake. While enthusiasm and support are strong, challenges persist, particularly around awareness and lingering misconceptions that apprenticeships are somehow less valuable than university degrees.

In June, I briefed the Government on the progress of the Public Service Apprenticeship Plan, joined by my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.

Momentum is building. Annual registrations have climbed from just 67 in 2022 to 165 in 2024. Sectors are forecasting 554 registrations in 2025, a 240% increase on last year. While still short of our target, this growth signals real progress and a deepening commitment to embedding apprenticeships across the public service.

New programmes are helping drive this change. Notably, the launch of a Level 8 Social Work apprenticeship and a Level 6 Digital Marketing apprenticeship opens exciting new pathways for public sector talent development.

To support this expansion, my Department, together with the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, has introduced a suite of employer engagement initiatives, including an Employer Symposium, and published a Practical Guide to Employing Apprentices in the Public Service.

Significant progress has been made but delivering on the Government’s ambition will require continued leadership and collaboration across all public service bodies. With a workforce of over 400,000, the public service is uniquely positioned to make apprenticeships a core element of its talent strategy, helping to foster greater diversity, inclusion, and opportunity through apprentice recruitment.