“Recently, Government has given 10 Institutes of Technology €8m in capital funding to expand the number of apprenticeships available to school leavers.
“At a time when students are doing their Leaving Cert and thinking of future opportunities, I am glad to see Government further expanding the number of apprenticeship places available to school leavers,” said Fitzgerald.
Fitzgerald detailed the capital funding provided to Dublin-based Institutes of Technology, stating:
“Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has received €3,010,000 to accommodate additional apprenticeships in Mechanical, Automation and Maintenance Fitting, Industrial Installation, Sheet Metalwork, Aircraft Maintenance, Vehicle Body Repairs, Wood Manufacturing and Fitting, Brickwork, Painting and Decoration. Blanchardstown Institute of Technology has also been given €250,000 to facilitate further Plumbing apprenticeships. These represent fantastic training and future employment opportunities for young people across the constituency.
“Unfortunately, apprenticeships and their related trades were devastated by the economic recession. Registrations decreased by 80% after the crash and we know anecdotally that a lot of young men in particular went abroad to train and practice their respective trades. We need to build up our apprenticeship programme again in order to provide greater options to school leavers and providing a high level of qualified technicians to meet demand.
“As well as the apprenticeships announced this week, there are existing apprenticeships available across the construction, engineering, electrical, hospitality, motor, ICT and finance sectors. It is the Government’s aim to double the number of apprenticeships available by 2020 with over 5,000 employers using the apprenticeship system as a talent pipeline.
“I would encourage young people to research the options open to them on www.apprenticeship.ie or by contacting their local Educational and Training Board,” concluded Fitzgerald.
