Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 30 September 2025
983. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of apprenticeship options to be available for enrolment in the coming academic year; and the level of respective enrolment in each of these options for the most recent period for which data is available. [51903/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently 78 apprenticeship programmes available to learners. 25 of these are traditional craft apprenticeships and 53 are post-2016 consortia-led apprenticeships.
Post 2016 consortia-led apprenticeships have fixed intake timing, with a set intake number of training places and funding. Off-the-job training and progression of the apprentice is facilitated based on the academic calendar.
However, it is important to note that the craft apprenticeship system functions differently to other educational programmes and consortia-led apprenticeships. Unlike other educational programmes or consortia-led apprenticeships, craft apprenticeships do not have fixed intake periods. Apprentices can be registered by their employers at any time of the year and they are scheduled for off-the-job training based on their registration date. An apprentice who has successfully completed the minimum on-the-job training period becomes eligible for scheduling to the next off-the-job phase.
From January 2025 to the end of August 2025, the most recent period for which data is available, there have been a total of 4,982 registrations - 3,936 registrations for craft apprenticeships and 1,046 registrations for consortia-led apprenticeships.
This registration data is provided below, and is broken down by registrations for each of the apprenticeships active as of end-August in tabular form. Please note that the consortia-led Accounting Technologist apprenticeship programme commenced in mid-September 2025.
2025 Apprentice Registrations (to-end of August)
|
Pre-2016 (Craft) Trades |
Male |
Female |
|
Construction |
1106 |
17 |
|
Brick and Stonelaying |
43 |
0 |
|
Cabinet Making |
0 |
0 |
|
Carpentry and Joinery |
442 |
12 |
|
Painting and Decorating |
9 |
0 |
|
Plastering |
18 |
0 |
|
Plumbing |
532 |
2 |
|
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry |
4 |
0 |
|
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing |
58 |
3 |
|
Electrical |
1860 |
53 |
|
Aircraft Mechanics |
1 |
0 |
|
Electrical |
1694 |
47 |
|
Electrical Instrumentation |
42 |
3 |
|
Electronic Security Systems |
44 |
0 |
|
Instrumentation |
7 |
0 |
|
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning |
72 |
3 |
|
Engineering |
340 |
11 |
|
Farriery |
7 |
0 |
|
Industrial Insulation |
12 |
0 |
|
Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitting |
86 |
2 |
|
Metal Fabrication |
142 |
6 |
|
Pipefitting |
57 |
2 |
|
Sheet Metalworking |
24 |
0 |
|
Toolmaking |
12 |
1 |
|
Motor |
530 |
19 |
|
Agricultural Mechanics |
51 |
1 |
|
Construction Plant Fitting |
44 |
0 |
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics |
100 |
3 |
|
Motor Mechanics |
307 |
11 |
|
Vehicle Body Repairs |
28 |
4 |
|
Total |
3836 |
100 |
|
Post-2016 (Consortia-Led) Trades |
Male |
Female |
|
Agriculture and Arboriculture |
65 |
4 |
|
Arboriculture |
15 |
0 |
|
Farm Manager |
10 |
1 |
|
Farm Technician |
2 |
0 |
|
Horticulture |
21 |
3 |
|
Sportsturf Management |
17 |
0 |
|
Auctioneering and Property Services |
43 |
63 |
|
Auctioneering and Property Services |
43 |
63 |
|
BioPharmaChem |
10 |
14 |
|
Laboratory Analyst |
6 |
5 |
|
Laboratory Technician |
4 |
9 |
|
Construction |
18 |
2 |
|
Advanced Quantity Surveyor |
2 |
2 |
|
Geo Driller |
0 |
0 |
|
Scaffolding |
16 |
0 |
|
Electrical |
16 |
0 |
|
Industrial Electrical Engineer |
16 |
0 |
|
Engineering |
169 |
38 |
|
Advanced Manufacturing Engineering |
8 |
3 |
|
Civil Engineer |
52 |
13 |
|
Civil Engineering Technician |
12 |
3 |
|
Engineering Services Management |
18 |
0 |
|
Equipment Systems Engineer |
2 |
0 |
|
Lean Sigma Manager |
21 |
8 |
|
Manufacturing Engineer (Level 7) |
16 |
1 |
|
Manufacturing Technology (Level 6) |
22 |
5 |
|
OEM Engineering Technician |
8 |
0 |
|
Polymer Processing Technology |
4 |
1 |
|
Principal Engineer |
6 |
4 |
|
Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician |
0 |
0 |
|
Financial Services |
44 |
65 |
|
Accounting Technician |
43 |
64 |
|
International Financial Services Associate |
1 |
1 |
|
International Financial Services Specialist |
0 |
0 |
|
Hair |
8 |
43 |
|
Hairdressing |
8 |
43 |
|
Healthcare |
12 |
44 |
|
Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner |
0 |
4 |
|
Social Worker |
12 |
40 |
|
Hospitality and Food |
22 |
5 |
|
Bar Manager |
3 |
1 |
|
Butcher |
9 |
0 |
|
Chef de Partie |
1 |
0 |
|
Commis Chef |
8 |
3 |
|
Sous Chef |
1 |
1 |
|
ICT |
56 |
37 |
|
Computer Network Associate |
18 |
2 |
|
Cybersecurity |
14 |
10 |
|
Cybersecurity Practitioner - Level 8 |
0 |
0 |
|
Digital Marketing |
9 |
15 |
|
Network Engineer Associate |
0 |
0 |
|
Software Development Associate |
12 |
10 |
|
Telecommunications and Data Network Technician |
3 |
0 |
|
Insurance |
25 |
23 |
|
Insurance Practitioner |
25 |
23 |
|
Logistics |
65 |
30 |
|
Logistics Associate |
21 |
13 |
|
Supply Chain Associate |
13 |
3 |
|
Supply Chain Manager |
14 |
12 |
|
Supply Chain Specialist |
4 |
2 |
|
Transport Operations and Commercial Driving |
13 |
0 |
|
Media |
0 |
0 |
|
CGI Technical Artist |
0 |
0 |
|
Recruitment |
4 |
7 |
|
Recruitment Executive |
4 |
7 |
|
Sales |
61 |
53 |
|
Retail Supervision |
21 |
26 |
|
Sales |
40 |
27 |
|
Total |
618 |
428 |
|
Overall Total to End of August 2025 |
|
4982 |
