266. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an outline of the key measures in the Careers in Construction Action Plan that will promote housing construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22094/26]

I would like to thank Deputy Ó Muirí for his interest in the Careers in Construction Action Plan. I was delighted to launch the update to the plan in January.

Delivering homes and infrastructure requires more than bricks and mortar, it requires people. It is clear we need to attract more people into the construction sector to meet our housing and infrastructural goals.

Following the publication of the original Careers in Construction Action Plan, we have seen increases in the construction workforce, more women in the sector and greater interest from second-level students via CAO First Preferences.

Although trends are moving in the right direction, more needs to be done to attract new entrants and converts to construction-related careers.

My Department has worked with industry partners, professional bodies, and training providers to develop the Updated Careers in Construction Action Plan. The Updated Plan focuses on

• Widening Participation

• Education, Training & Upskilling, and

• Promotional Activity.

A large part of the focus of this new plan continues to be on promotion and recruitment, including our highly successful Building Heroes campaign. But it is also about system change. We are embedding new pathways, mentoring programmes and inclusive practices to make construction a career of choice for all.

We are introducing taster courses, piloting prison-based training and growing Modern Methods of Construction pathways. We want the construction sector to be a modern, diverse and rewarding sector, and will continue to work with partners to achieve that.