5. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the further actions he intends to take to increase craft apprenticeship participation given the additional funding announced in budget 2026 and the urgent need to increase the number of people qualified in the trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56315/25]

Sentiment score: 0.27

I welcome the recent announcement of funding of €339 million for craft apprenticeships for 2025. It is my understanding that this funding will be used to support the expansion of training places, the recruitment and retention of instructors, and the provision of more places, especially in trades needed for housing infrastructure, including, as the Minister of State said, plumbers and electricians. The recent documentary "Who's Building Ireland?" explored the construction industry and who is building the 300,000 new homes needed by 2030. There are 170,000 people working in the construction industry in Ireland. We need between 30,000 and 40,000 skilled workers to build these homes. How does the Minister of State propose to incentivise the fully trained craftspeople to remain in Ireland once they have finished their apprenticeships?

Sentiment score: 0.12

We are depending on migrant workers to build these houses. These workers have come from Poland, Latvia, Moldova, Bolivia, South Africa and other places across the world. As I said, there are 300,000 new homes needed by 2030 and there are 170,000 people working in construction, but 30,000 to 40,000 is a lot of people to be found between now and 2030. All these workers need to be trained. How many years will it take to achieve the number of qualified craftspeople necessary to meet the demand for housing supply?

Sentiment score: -0.01