Funding will help expand apprenticeships across higher education in Mayo

Minister Alan Dillon TD has welcomed over €20.5 million in apprenticeship funding that will respond to the growing demand for apprenticeships across Ireland’s higher education sector.

The funding under the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will be allocated across four Technological Universities and one Institute of Technology, delivering 99 additional apprenticeship craft training blocks and supporting eight consortium-led apprenticeship equipment projects. This expansion will create almost 1,600 new apprenticeship places nationwide.

Minister Dillon said: “This is a very welcome investment in Ireland’s apprenticeship system, which continues to go from strength to strength. I particularly want to acknowledge the success of the electrical, motor mechanics, carpentry and joinery, and tool making apprenticeship courses in Castlebar, which are producing highly skilled graduates who are in demand across the region.

“Apprenticeships are vital for Mayo and the West of Ireland, offering young people and career changers practical pathways into secure, well-paid employment. I will continue to push for the delivery of more apprenticeship courses in Castlebar, ensuring that our local training facilities can expand to meet the needs of industry and provide opportunities for our communities.”

This investment will fund the delivery of 99 apprenticeship craft training blocks, as well as eight Consortium-Led Apprenticeship (CLA) equipment projects.

These craft training blocks will provide extra capacity at Phase 4 and Phase 6 across four Technological Universities and one Institute of Technology. This extra capacity will support the expansion of registrations in high-demand trades such as: Electrical, carpentry and joinery, heavy vehicle mechanics, motor mechanics, plumbing, mechanical automation and maintenance fitting, refrigeration and air conditioning, and wood manufacturing and finishing.

The funding will also provide for specialist equipment to support eight CLA programmes in areas such as manufacturing, polymer processing, and electrical. Since 2016, the consortia-led model has successfully expanded apprenticeships into new sectors including ICT, finance, health and social care, and marketing.