State must lead on apprenticeships to deliver homes and services
State must lead on apprenticeships to deliver homes and services - The Labour Party
Labour education spokesperson Eoghan Kenny TD has today called on the Government to make the State the primary sponsor of apprenticeship programmes, warning that Ireland will not meet housing targets or deliver strong public services unless local authorities and State agencies directly train, employ and retain skilled workers.
With the consultation on the Action Plan on Apprenticeships 2026–2030 open until 16 February, Labour is urging the Government to place the public sector at the centre of apprenticeship delivery so that public investment builds lasting State capacity rather than funding short-term private contracts.
Deputy Kenny said:
“I welcome the increase in apprenticeship numbers in recent years, but numbers alone will not deliver homes or public services if the State cannot secure the skilled workers it needs. Too often, local authorities and State agencies remain dependent on outsourcing for essential work, even as we face a housing emergency and growing pressure on public services. If the State is serious about delivery, it must lead on training, employing and retaining skilled workers through apprenticeships.
“We will not meet housing targets unless the State becomes a leader in construction, retrofit, repairs and maintenance. Local authorities must have the in-house capacity to build social and affordable homes and to maintain existing stock properly. That requires a permanent, skilled public workforce. It makes no sense to set ambitious housing targets while councils lack the plumbers, electricians, carpenters, engineers and operatives needed to deliver them.
“These are the skills in shortest supply across the country. They are also good, secure jobs that offer stability, proper conditions and accountability to the public. Direct employment by local authorities and State agencies delivers better value for money, higher standards and stronger oversight, while helping to retain skills in local communities.
“Local authorities should become the key sponsors of apprenticeship programmes nationwide. By embedding apprenticeships within councils and State bodies, we can rebuild public capacity and ensure that skills developed with public funding remain in the public system. Apprenticeships should strengthen the State’s ability to deliver homes, infrastructure and services, not simply feed a private labour market while core work is outsourced.
“Apprenticeships are not just about skills, they are about State capacity. Proper investment in public sector training means faster delivery, better maintained homes and more resilient services. It also creates clear, secure pathways into skilled work for young people and career changers in every part of the country.
“The Action Plan on Apprenticeships 2026–2030 is a real opportunity to change course. I urge apprentices, workers, trade unions, educators and local authorities to engage with this consultation and push for an ambitious plan that puts the public sector at its core.
“If the State wants to lead on housing, climate action through retrofit and strong public services, it must lead on training. That means committing to State-led apprenticeships, backing local authorities as employers and building a permanent skilled workforce that can deliver for the public now and into the future.”