Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 11 December 2025
207. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the expansion of apprenticeship and skills programmes in 2025, particularly in new and emerging sectors such as digital health, green technologies and advanced manufacturing. [67775/25]
View answerMy priority is to support the delivery of Government objectives on Housing, Climate, and Digital transformation by ensuring that tertiary education and training pathways support Ireland’s skills base to adapt to the profound changes driven by global megatrends.
The Government has invested significantly to grow apprenticeship opportunities for learners across the country, including in new and emerging sectors and occupations.
I’m pleased to say that in the recent Budget the Government secured a major investment of €79 million for apprenticeship delivery. This brings the total current apprenticeship budget to over €410 million, more than double what it was in 2020 when my Department was established.
In 2020, there were 54 national apprenticeship programmes. Today, that number has grown to 78, offering qualifications on the National Framework of Qualifications from Level 5 right up to Level 10.
All new apprenticeships since 2016 are consortia-led. That means they are developed by employer-led groups and regularly reviewed to ensure that programmes respond to changing workforce needs. This approach keeps apprenticeships flexible and adaptable to new occupations. We now have programmes from emerging sectors such as Digital Marketing, Wind Turbine Maintenance, and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering.
Most recently, in October, I launched the Level 8 Accounting Technologist apprenticeship alongside the Taoiseach, the Tánaiste, Minister Lawless, and the Minister for the Economy in Northern Ireland. This is the first apprenticeship developed on an all-island basis, and it was designed specifically to respond to the impact of digitisation on the accounting profession.
Additionally, the Advanced Manufacturing Training Centre of Excellence under Louth Meath Education and Training Board provides training on advanced equipment and processes as well as specific skills programmes in Robotics, Collaborative Robotics, and Advanced Construction Technology.
