Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 February 2026
310. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide a commitment that his Department will adequately fund the Traveller apprenticeship incentivisation programme on a permanent basis as a feature of the national apprenticeship programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13238/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to growing and developing Ireland's apprenticeship system. A key priority for me is to make apprenticeships accessible to all. Access and inclusion measures such as the Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme (TAIP), support people in accessing education and training pathways.
The TAIP is a pilot programme which was established in 2023 and is administered by the Irish Traveller Movement. The TAIP provides targeted support to members of the Traveller community to access and complete apprenticeship programmes. This support is delivered through a €3,000 bursary, structured across three streams:
• New apprentices.
• Existing apprentices.
• Those attending pre-apprenticeship programmes.
There are also grants of €2,000 for employers who take on Travellers as apprentices.
In 2025, the TAIP received 194 expressions of interest. In total, 83 Travellers received the TAIP bursary across the programme's three streams – pre-, new and existing apprentices. In addition, three employer bursaries were awarded.
The ITM has also delivered a comprehensive communication plan to inform Travellers, organisations and stakeholders of the programme through workshops, social media, expositions and employment events, print advertisements, magazine articles, bulletins, and speaking events. In 2025, the ITM’s team delivered 33 workshops to 190 Traveller men and 72 Traveller women. The aim of these workshops was to inform the participants about the TAIP programme, the supports available and how to make an application.
My department has secured funding for the TAIP since 2023 through the Dormant Accounts Fund which is administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht and supports the development of persons who are economically or educationally disadvantaged, or those affected by a disability, within the meaning of the Equal Status Act.
Funding for apprenticeship delivery, including for access and inclusion measures, will be considered by the Government within the context of the Budget 2027 Estimates process.
A new Action Plan for Apprenticeship for the period 2026-2030 is currently in development, with access and inclusion supports remaining an objective in the new plan.
