884. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeship registrations in County Cork in each of the past three years, broken down by apprenticeship programme; the steps being taken to expand apprenticeship opportunities in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51105/26]

Apprenticeship programmes in Ireland operate as part of a national system. Apprentices are registered to the relevant Education and Training Board (ETB) based on their employer’s location, rather than where an apprentice is from, lives, or attends training. This means that an apprentice living in Co. Cork may be registered with, and attending training at, any of Ireland's 16 ETBs.

Of the 30,346 apprentices currently active in the system as of 2 July 2026, 3,666 are registered with Cork Education and Training Board (CETB). A list of the number of apprentices who were registered with CETB in each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025 broken down by programme is attached.

CETB offers training across a wide range of apprenticeship programmes, including Accounting Technician, Auctioneering, Brick & Stonelaying, Butcher, Carpentry & Joinery, Commis Chef, Cybersecurity, Electrical, Electrical Instrumentation, Heavy Vehicle Mechanics, Hairdressing, Metal Fabrication, Motor Mechanics, Pipefitting, Plumbing, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, Sales, and Software Development Associate. Training for these programmes is delivered across a number of CETB training centres.

In addition, MTU Cork offers training for the Advanced Manufacturing Engineering, Carpentry & Joinery, Chef de Partie, Civil Engineering Technologist, Construction Plant Fitting, Electrical, Electrical Instrumentation, Engineering Services Management, Laboratory Analyst, Logistics Associate, MAMF, Manufacturing Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Metal Fabrication, Motor Mechanics, Plastering, Plumbing, Pipefitting, Refrigeration & Air Conditioning, and Sous Chef apprenticeship programmes. Of these programmes, MTU is the co-ordinating provider for Chef de Partie, Engineering Services Management and Sous Chef.

In May 2026, I launched, together with Minister Foley and Minister of State Harkin, a new CORU-approved Social Care apprenticeship programme delivered by UCC and Munster Technological University. The programme will provide 55 additional training places from September 2026. The three-year, Level 8 programme combines paid employment with academic study and was developed to help address growing demand for qualified social care professionals. This programme represents a significant expansion of apprenticeship opportunities in the Cork region and provides a new pathway into the social care profession.

I have prioritised investment in apprenticeship delivery, which has more than doubled since the establishment of my Department in 2020, with the annual budget reaching €415 million in 2026. This investment has supported substantial growth in the apprenticeship system. Since 2020, annual apprentice registrations have increased by 78%, from 5,326 in 2020 to 9,461 in 2025. At the same time, the number of apprenticeship programmes has expanded from 58 in 2020 to nearly 90 programmes currently, covering a broad range of occupations from ICT, to social care, as well as traditional crafts such as plumbing and electrical.

The Government remains committed to further growing the apprenticeship system, with a target of achieving 12,500 new registrations annually by 2030. My Department will publish the next Action Plan for Apprenticeship later this year, which will consider how best to grow apprenticeship and other work-based learning opportunities.

It is important to note that funding for apprenticeship delivery is determined through the annual Estimates process.

CETB Registrations by Programme 2023-2025