SOLAS 'not able' to provide apprentice courses, councillor claims
A shortage of apprentices is hindering growth in the construction sector.
The national training agency SOLAS is not able to provide young people with apprenticeship courses despite the huge demand for apprentices, a local councillor has claimed.
Speaking at a meeting of Mayo County Council's Housing Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), Cllr Michael Kilcoyne said he had made representations on behalf of a young man to SOLAS, formerly FÁS, but was told he cannot start the course until January 2025.
“TDs and ministers are talking about how much we need apprentices, but SOLAS is so understaffed that it is just not able to give people the courses. It’s really serious at a time when we’re very short of electricians, plumbers and all the apprentices that are needed in the construction industry,” Cllr Kilcoyne remarked.
Cllr Christy Hyland said: "You can plan to build as many houses as you want, but there is only a certain amount of builders in the country.
