Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2026
1248. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprentices currently employed within the public service or semi-state companies such as ESB, Bord Na Mona and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9514/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe apprenticeship system is demand-led and employer-driven, designed to meet evolving workforce and skills requirements. The number of apprentices employed is determined by the needs and decisions of employers within each sector. As a demand-led model, employer participation directly influences apprentice recruitment levels and, consequently, the scale and growth of individual programmes. Information on semi-State bodies and their uptake of apprenticeships is not available. At the end of 2025, there were 31,165 apprentices in total nationally. Within this, a total of 566 apprentices were employed within the civil service and the public sector, of whom 196 were engaged in craft apprenticeships, including areas such as Carpentry and Joinery, Stonecutting and Stonemasonry. Semi-State bodies are not defined as part of the public service for these reporting purposes, and therefore are not counted in the total of 566.
