2. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment whether he will increase the minimum wage for apprentices to address the construction sector skills gap. [13853/26]

Sentiment score: 0.11

We need about 80,000 additional construction workers to meet our infrastructural needs and goals over the coming years. That means we have to make apprenticeships much more attractive for people to go into, so we have the tradespeople and the craftspeople to deliver on those infrastructural goals. We also have skills shortages in many other areas. There are many aspects to making it more attractive to take up apprenticeships but increasing the minimum payment, particularly in the first few years of apprenticeships, is critical. Does the Minister of State intend to raise these minimum pay rates for apprentices?

Sentiment score: 0.00

The average starter age for somebody taking up an apprenticeship is 21 to 22 years. While many of those are living at home, many are not, and some want to get out of home. If the Minister of State wants to make it attractive, a first-year wage of €7.67 per hour or €11.50 per hour in the second year is not exactly an attractive option. If they are living out of home or if they have children, it is completely unsustainable. There are then added things like equipment costs, which are very significant for many apprentices, transport costs and so on. We have got a major problem in delivering on our housing goals. We are failing significantly. We are tens of thousands short of what we need annually in terms of houses to put roofs over the heads of the people in this country. We have to make it more attractive and that means raising these pitifully low wages, particularly in the first and second years for apprentices.

Sentiment score: 0.03

The number of people has increased, but it is still well short of what we need because, as we know, we have a housing emergency, we have water infrastructure that we have to develop and we have shortages in a whole number of areas, including a shortage of chefs. We have to make it more attractive. The further education committee is producing a report next week which goes into many aspects of this. I repeat that the wage for the first year is €7.67 per hour and for the second year is €11.50 per hour. If the average age of people going into apprenticeships is 21 to 22, it is just not a runner. I cannot say it is not a runner because some people do it, but it is tough going. If the Minister is talking about inclusion and the barriers that exist for women, people with disabilities and different groups, this is a serious barrier and we need to do something about it. Part of the reason I am in favour of a State construction company is so we can take on more apprentices on better rates and make it more attractive to be an apprentice. At a minimum, we need to raise those first-year and second-year rates to minimum-wage rates.

Sentiment score: 0.05