Long delays hindering Leitrim apprentices career progression

Long delays in accessing college-based training for apprenticeships has been described as a barrier to the apprentices progression.

At this months Council meeting, Cllr Brendan Barry proposed a motion urging the Council to call on Minister for Further and Higher Education Patrick O’Donovan TD and Taoiseach Simon Harris to help apprentices.

Cllr Barry described apprentices as the future of our trade services, and called their work vital to the economic and social wellbeing of Ireland.

“It’s come to the situation where an apprenticeship that should’ve only taken four years is now taking up to six years.

“There’s huge delays in the off-the-job part of the apprenticeship. Apprentices are being left with 12 months and over waiting to try get to college so they can do their off-the-job placements to get up to the next pay grade,” Cllr Barry explained

“It’s a very bad way to treat apprentices. Over the last few years, over 3000 of them have given up and many have emigrated to where they’re able to get a good job.

“If they were looked after and encouraged here, we’d have so many more tradespeople and be able to build the houses we so badly need.

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“We need to call on the current minister and the Taoiseach to show proper respect for these apprentices, get proper wages, not to see them abused and that they will continue to stay here in the country and provide the skills we so badly need,” he finished.

Cllr Maeve Reynolds seconded the motion.

“The wait creates great uncertainty, they don’t know when they’re going to be qualified and no one can plan anything. We need to encourage the uptake of these trades, we all know there’s a massive shortage nationwide,” Cllr Reynolds said.

Cllr Justin Warnock pointed out that the starting age for apprentices should be lowered, which he feels would encourage more people to enter the trade.

“They need to look at apprenticeships starting at 16 years of age. There are an awful lot of young people that would sooner take up a trade than proceed to their Leaving Cert.

“Parents shouldn’t have an expectation that every child should go to university and follow an academic route, for if there was an option at 16 years old, you would see a lot more people taking it up,” Cllr Warnock commented.

Cllr Mitchell who has trained two of his sons in carpeting from the age of 14, concurred with Cllr Warnock that starting early is highly beneficial.

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Cllr Barry’s motion was supported across the assembly.