Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
115. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to outline the work being undertaken by his Department to increase the number of craft apprenticeships nationally, given their importance in meeting national construction and housing retrofit targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37371/25]
View answerThis Government is strongly committed to apprenticeships and has significantly expanded opportunities for students in recent years. This growth is essential to equipping Ireland’s workforce with the skills needed to meet national priorities in housing, retrofitting, and infrastructure delivery.
My Department collaborates with key sectoral partners—including SOLAS, the National Construction Training Centre, Skillnet Ireland, and the Education and Training Boards—to boost the supply of construction skills through the existing tertiary education network.
Since the Department’s establishment, investment in apprenticeship training has grown substantially. In Budget 2025, an additional €77 million was allocated, bringing the total apprenticeship budget to €339 million—a 84% increase from €184 million in 2020.
As of today, there are 77 national apprenticeship programmes available in Ireland—25 craft apprenticeships and 52 consortia-led programmes. These span a wide range of industries, including construction-related fields such as Carpentry and Joinery, Plumbing, and Civil Engineering. This marks a 33% increase in programme offerings since 2020, with further expansion currently underway.
Investment in craft apprenticeships has been particularly impactful for the construction sector and national housing targets. 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.
To further support this momentum, my Department launched the Careers in Construction Action Plan in August 2023. This initiative promotes careers in construction, with a particular focus on encouraging participation among girls and women through peer-to-peer campaigns.
This Government remains committed to ensuring that the apprenticeship system is robust, responsive, and ready to meet the evolving skills needs of Ireland’s economy.
