Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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2110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department has considered the establishment of a separate, dedicated construction training board to operate independently of SOLAS; and the rationale for either pursuing or rejecting this proposal. [58226/25]

Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú)
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2111. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide the internal assessments, feasibility studies, or stakeholder consultations conducted by his Department regarding the creation of a construction training board focused solely on the needs of the construction sector. [58227/25]

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2110 and 2111 together.

This Government is providing a range of training options in the skills needed to deliver new housing, drive retrofitting projects, and meet infrastructural priorities under the National Development Plan.

The job of addressing pressing skills needs must be a collaborative effort and my Department works with sectoral partners, such as SOLAS, the National Construction Training Campus, Skillnet, Education and Training Boards (ETBs), and industry representatives to increase skills supply. This includes the area of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC).

Workers are needed across different skills levels, including apprenticeship. A Government priority is to ensure that the apprenticeship system is well equipped to continue to grow, respond to the skills needs of industry, and adapt to workforce challenges.

In Budget 2026 my Department secured a €79 million additional investment in apprenticeships, the highest core apprenticeship funding since the Department’s formation. Since 2020, we have more than doubled the investment in apprenticeships –by 123% - bringing the total annual current budget to over €410 million.

I am happy to say that increased funding combined with high employer demand for apprenticeships is bearing fruit.

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.

My Department is committed to developing a new Action Plan for Apprenticeship to cover the period 2026-2030. This Action Plan will seek to update current apprenticeship policy to reflect present and anticipated challenges within Ireland’s apprenticeship environment. The development of the Action Plan, which is a Programme for Government commitment, will recognise Government priorities such as the National Development Plan, Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan.

The Department will be launching a public consultation shortly to seek views on how the system can be improved, made more inclusive, and further aligned with national skills needs.

My Department also works with SOLAS on other construction skills needs outside of the apprenticeship model. For example, we are collaborating to upskill Ireland’s construction workforce in MMC, a key pillar of the Government’s approach to increasing innovation and housing productivity.

It is widely acknowledged that in order to meet Ireland’s ambitious targets for housing, climate action and infrastructure delivery, the construction sector must adopt new technologies and processes, including off-site construction, digital tools, and innovative materials. MMC skills are a key enabler for this shift.

My Department has published a comprehensive, cross-sector Action Plan to support the greater adoption of MMC. This was developed in consultation with key partners and supports the transition to MMC across the construction supply chain. Through the Action Plan, SOLAS is funding a range of MMC training pathways, including an MMC Traineeship.

We are also overseeing the development of the National Demonstration Park for MMC, a deliverable in Housing for All. The Park is located at the National Construction Training Campus, under Laois Offaly ETB, and will provide an accessible flagship location for MMC demonstration and specialist training.

In relation to climate needs, these are also a core part of the skills response. SOLAS has published Green Skills 2030, the first national FET strategy for the green economy, and an associated implementation plan. These provide the framework for the FET sector to respond to skills requirements emerging from a wide range of climate policies and identifies how the sector can directly meet the resulting skills needs, including in relation to construction.

Other green construction training initiatives include a suite of ETB-delivered FET micro-qualifications, with a focus on upskilling and reskilling in sustainability awareness, resource efficiency, circular economy, sustainable lean practices, sustainable supply chain management and eco-driving.

Near Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB) and retrofit training, essential for achieving Government targets of 500,000 domestic retrofits by 2030, is delivered through SOLAS’ Centre of Excellence network. There have been over 17,600 enrolments since the first centre opened in 2020. The centres offer free and flexible short, targeted courses.

Finally, the Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS) provides for the training, assessment, certification and registration of non-craft operatives, providing the knowledge and skills needed for varied occupations within the construction sector. 26,644 CSCS cards were issued in 2024 alone.

Whilst the establishment of a separate construction training board has not been part of that conversation to date, I trust that the above information has assured the Deputy that all of the partners are working productively and collaboratively to address skills provision that the construction industry alone cannot resolve.

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