Learning to value the role of apprentices

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has just overseen the publication by his department of an in-depth report on apprenticeships in Ireland.

It is certainly timely, as our economy emerges blinking into the light from a long, dark tunnel.

During the boom, the gaps in our labour force were exposed as never before. That growth spurt will not return any time soon, but the surge in emigration raises the prospect of a re-emergence of skills shortages.