The reduction in apprenticeships within critical trades in the construction sector, as seen the last year, is serving as an obstacle to resolving the housing predicament, argue Opposition members. In 2022, 1,676 individuals enlisted in construction industry apprenticeships; by last year, however, the figure stood at 1,583.
Apprenticeships in bricklaying and stonemasonry fell from 72 in 2022 to merely 66 the following year, a drastic drop compared to the 148 entrants in 2021. Carpentry and joinery experienced a similar pattern, with beginner apprentices dropping from 713 in 2022 to 711 last year against 847 registered the previous year.
Plastering apprenticeships saw a minor decline, down to 30 from 31 in 2022, whilst those in painting and decorating dipped from 23 to 17.
On the other hand, plumbing registrations had a steeper decline, from 792 in 2022 to 739 the following year. Nonetheless, there was a surge in individuals starting electrician apprenticeships, from 2,648 in 2022 to 2,837 the subsequent year.
These statistics were provided by Simon Harris, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, responding to a Parliament query from Social Democrats’ Cian O’Callaghan, spokesperson for housing. Despite a decline in entrance figures for key construction trades, there was an overall increase of 149 new apprentices registered last year.
O’Callaghan warns that we cannot aspire to construct more homes annually if the count of skilled construction apprentices continues to plummet. He noted with disappointment that a mere 66 people pursued brick and stone laying apprenticeships the previous year, a sharp contrast to the 475 registrants in 2006.
One of the factors possibly discouraging people from commencing construction apprenticeships is the ‘inordinately low wages’ during initial job years, according to the TD for Dublin Bay North.
Constructing multitudes of homes is the sole solution to the current housing crisis that’s inflicting immense distress and turmoil to individuals across Ireland. The current administration is only observing passively while crucial skills in home construction decline annually.
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