Sligo-Leitrim TD says expansion of apprenticeships needed to meet housing targets
Speaking in the Dáil, Minister Marian Harkin highlighted the need for an expanded skilled workforce, with apprenticeships central to housing and construction plans.
Sligo-Leitrim TD Marian Harkin, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, highlighted in the Dáil on Thursday, December 11, the need to expand apprenticeships and trade-focused education to help achieve housing targets.
Her comments came as Barry Heneghan TD asked Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, to outline current and planned measures to expand apprenticeship and trade-focused education opportunities, noting that public perception of trades needs to be improved.
Minister Harkin spoke about visiting St Andrew’s Resource Centre, a training hub in Dublin. “If anybody wants to see how to help to get young men and women into different sectors through traineeships and apprenticeships in a supportive and inclusive way, they need to look at what is happening there,” she said.
She emphasised that meeting the Government’s ambitious housing targets will require a skilled workforce.
“Apprenticeships are central to supporting these demands in supplying skilled workers for housing developments, construction and the renewable energy sectors,” she said.
“The Programme for Government sets an ambitious target of 12,500 annual apprentice registrations by 2030, with two thirds of those in craft and construction. This reflects the vital role construction plays in infrastructure and economic growth,” added Minister Harkin.
She also highlighted the Build Back Home programme, which aims to encourage skilled Irish construction workers to return from countries such as Canada and Australia.
“The Department is making real efforts to, first of all, entice workers back to Ireland but, equally, to get more and more students to take the apprenticeship pathway.
“One of the ways we are trying to do that is through modern methods of construction, MMC. We have a Skillnet MMC Accelerate platform, launched in May this year, which highlights MMC projects and how students can avail of what is available,” she concluded.
The Government's housing plan, “Delivering Homes, Building Communities 2025-2030,” aims to deliver 300,000 new homes by 2030, including 72,000 social homes and 90,000 affordable housing supports.