Apprenticeship Programmes
Dail Éireann — 2026-04-23
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Marian Harkin (IND), Sligo-Leitrim

The point Deputy Kenny has made is very important. We have a number of programmes, especially in construction, and I will come back to the public service in a minute. One of our best programmes was a social media programme, Building Heroes, whereby 15 young men and women in the construction industry were involved in a social media campaign so that young people could see what it was like to be involved in these jobs. Yes, there are challenges with getting the messages out through schools but things are improving significantly. More and more career guidance teachers are becoming involved. Sometimes it is a teacher in a school who has a specific interest and can encourage students on this pathway. From this perspective, the Department is making every effort to advertise these programmes. I can say there are plenty of applications for the public service apprenticeships, and this is really where these apprenticeships are for now.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/dail/2026-04-23/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-27T06:54:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-04-23