A record number of apprentices were registered in 2023, with significant numbers registering to join construction trades.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Further Education and Skills Niall Collins also confirmed 17 new apprenticeship programmes are proposed for this year.
These include four in the area of construction, with a further six in areas such as firefighting and paramedics currently in development.
The announcement comes as figures show the apprenticeship population has increased to 27,470, with a record 8,712 new registrations in 2023. 6,588 of these are in the craft area.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said: “Increasing the number of apprentices and apprenticeships is crucial if we want to meet the targets this Government has set under Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan.
“The future of this country will be safeguarded by our skilled apprentices so we must put all the tools at the disposal of young people to avail of these opportunities and get trained in areas where there is need for an increase in workers.
“By 2025 we set the target of 10,000 new apprentices every year and we are very close to reaching that target with close to 9,000 last year.
“We want to make apprenticeships as accessible and available as possible. That requires us constantly altering and changing what we can offer to people.
“Importantly, this includes paramedics, social workers, roofing and cladding, and a Level 8 and Masters in Civil Engineering.”
The new apprenticeship programmes are intended to start from mid-2024 and later in the academic year.
Minister Collins said: “We need to keep spreading the message that there is a huge variety of careers available through apprenticeships – sustainable jobs that will answer the skills needs of the country, and also many that will help drive the Government’s Housing for All strategy.”
Dr Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, said: “By the end of 2024 there will be over 80 national apprenticeship programmes available across a broad range of really dynamic industry areas in Ireland.
“The National Apprenticeship Office is delighted to support employers and the enterprise community in meeting skills needs and supporting talent development and retention through the apprenticeship route.”