Apprenticeship Programmes
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Marian Harkin (IND), Sligo-Leitrim

I thank the Deputy for his question. The Government's commitment to expanding apprenticeship opportunities is delivering strong results. My Department secured €79 million additional investment through budget 2026, bringing the total investment for apprenticeships to over €410 million, more than double the level of 2020. This investment has supported significant growth with annual registrations rising by 78% from just over 5,000 in 2020 to well over 9,000 in 2025.
The question relates to apprenticeship participation across the public sector and this is a very specific priority for the Government. The public service apprenticeship plan, a deliverable under the Department's action plan for apprenticeship, which will soon be released, and the better public services strategy of the Department of public expenditure, sets a target of 750 annual public service apprentice registrations.
A co-ordinated set of actions from both Departments was put in place to assist employers in meeting apprenticeship targets. This included the establishment of leadership and working groups, employer engagement activities and practical supports such as the guide for employing apprentices in the public service, as well as promotional activities. While the target of 750 annual registrations has not yet been met, uptake increased from 67 in 2022 to 286 in 2025, demonstrating momentum and a foundation for continued expansion. The establishment of new apprenticeship programmes, such as social work, has been central to the increase achieved. In addition, earlier this week, together with the Ministers, Deputies Lawless, Chambers and Calleary, I launched a new business and operations apprenticeship, which will open up new pathways for careers in the public service.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23