Alternative paths: Apprenticeships gaining in popularity and diversity

School-leavers choosing apprenticeships has doubled in the last three years, up to 16,000 from 8,300 in 2015. With the majority of options still found in the traditional craft sectors, an ever-widening array of options continue to be added in sectors ranging from accounting to insurance to ICT.

The Government is expected to announce capital funding of more than €7.5m for nine institutes of technology and Technological University Dublin to help expanding and modernising apprenticeship options over the coming years.