Tánaiste and Labour TD for Dublin West, Joan Burton, has welcomed proposals for a major expansion of apprenticeships in Ireland, brought forward by the Apprenticeship Council recently to Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan.

The Council have proposed 25 new apprenticeships, focussed on a wide range of skills and sectors, including Manufacturing and Engineering, Tourism and Sport, Financial Services, Information Technology, Transport Distribution and Logistics, and Business Administration and Management.

Tánaiste Joan Burton said: “This year, more than 3,000 people are expected to begin apprenticeships, twice as many as in 2012, and companies like Eircom, ESB and CIE are offering coveted opportunities.

“We’re intent on massively increasing that number. We will now move to get these new apprenticeships started in sectors such as IT, hospitality and financial services – where there will be significant career opportunities in the coming years.

“As a Government we want to see an expanded and enhanced role for the apprenticeship model. We have to recognise not every young person aspires to college, and provide the best range of training and career development for them.

“This is part of a wider investment in qualifications and education that will help in our drive to achieve full employment.”

The 25 new programmes have been deemed by the Apprenticeship Council to be both sustainable and at an advanced stage of design, planning and industry/education collaboration. They will now enter a detailed development phase.