Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2025
1086. Deputy William Aird asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to expand apprenticeship and further education opportunities in Laois, particularly through Laois–Offaly Education and Training Board; if she will ensure young people have pathways into skilled employment locally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [70333/25]
View answerThank you, Deputy, for this question.
My Department has significantly increased its investment in Further Education and Training (FET) sector via SOLAS in the last number of years. SOLAS' allocation to Laois and Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) has increased from over €28 million in 2020 to over €53 million in 2025.
LOETB is a leading training service provider in construction and green related areas through the national construction training campus in Mount Lucas. This is home to the National Demonstration Park for modern methods of construction, national apprenticeship in scaffolding, and the national skilled utilities operator traineeship. LOETB has one of the six national Nearly Zero Energy Buildings centres of excellence providing upskilling and retrofit courses.
LOETB has informed my officials that they have 830 registered apprentices in 2025 spanning a variety of apprenticeships compared to 757 in 2024. There has been a 68% increase in apprentice numbers in LOETB over the last five years. Outside of apprentices, unique learner enrolments have grown from 3,008 in 2020 to 9,438 in 2024. As of quarter 2 2025, unique learner enrolments stood at 8,756.
LOETB currently works with 405 Active Employers compared to 371 in January 2024. There has been a 53% increase in Active Employer numbers in the region over the last five years. Active Employers are employers that are officially approved by SOLAS to provide on-the-job apprentice and traineeship training.
LOETB has further advised my officials that it has undergone a significant expansion of its Phase 2 electrical and plumbing apprenticeship provision in recent years. From 2019 to 2025, it states that it has increased Phase 2 apprenticeship provision by 83%. Of the 504 apprentices trained at Phase 2 in LOETB’s centres in 2025, 288 of them were trained in Laois. LOETB is also a collaborating provider of the Level 6, two-year Hair Dressing apprenticeship which runs from Portlaoise.
These substantial developments by LOETB in recent years is ensuring young people in Laois have pathways into skilled employment locally.
