Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 7 October 2025
733. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the status of the target of 10,000 annual apprenticeship registrations by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53506/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraInvestment in the apprenticeship system has been significant since my department was formed in 2020. To ensure an adequate pipeline of skilled apprentices to support government targets on housing and infrastructure development, €77 million was invested in the apprenticeship system in Budget 2025, bringing the total current budget for apprenticeship to €339 million. This represents a significant increase of 84% in apprenticeship funding since 2020.
Annual apprenticeship registrations have grown strongly in recent years from 6,177 in 2019 to 9,352 in 2024. This 51% increase provides a strong foundation for achieving the target of 10,000 annual apprentice registrations by the end of 2025.
As of September this year, there have been 6,676 apprenticeship registrations. It should be noted that in 2024 the last four months of the year were the strongest period for apprenticeship registrations - 45% of all registrations for the year took place in this period.
A key goal set out in the Apprenticeship Action Plan 2021-2025 is for apprenticeship to be recognised and valued by employers in every sector of Ireland’s economy as a key route to recruiting a highly skilled workforce. At present, there is a total of 78 national apprenticeship programmes, 25 of which are Craft Apprenticeships and 53 of which are Consortia-Led programmes. These 78 apprenticeships cover a diverse assortment of career paths, ranging from Cybersecurity to Hairdressing.
It is my department’s and this government's priority to continue to invest in apprenticeships, with a target of 12,500 annual registrations by 2030.
