O’Reilly calls for modernisation to boost apprenticeship system

“Too few people are taking up apprenticeships. We need to ask why and to find ways to encourage young people to choose this route because industry is changing, and so too should our apprenticeship schemes”, said Joe O’Reilly, Fine Gael TD for Cavan/Monaghan.

“There is a shortage of apprentices in the system at present. We must deal with this and in doing so we need to ensure that our workers have the skills necessary in a changing economy. Apprenticeships are a vital path to employment and it is important that through these schemes we equip our young people with the skills they need.

“This week the ESB announced that they are to train 300 new apprentices providing opportunities for young people throughout the country. However there is no doubt that these young people will be taking an alternative path to many of their peers, as apprenticeships are simply no longer as available or as effective as they once were.

“The Education and Training Board (ETB) in Cavan is now providing training and apprenticeships in a new and diverse way. During his visit earlier this month the Taoiseach saw first-hand the value of this new approach.

“Last week in Dáil Éireann I called on the Taoiseach to consider introducing stimulus packages to promote apprenticeships as a viable career choice for young people.

“The Taoiseach confirmed to me that the Minister of State in the Department of Education, Damien English, will receive proposals by the end of March on ways of addressing apprenticeship requirements and following on from these proposals he will then consider implementing new measures.

“I feel passionately that for economic and educational purposes we need to address this issue without delay and I am hopeful that Minister English will act on proposals to evolve the apprenticeship system to reflect the changing nature of industry and business.”