Apprentices signing up for programmes in the construction sector remains very low, it has been claimed.

According to media reports, only 10 plasterers, bricklayers and painter/decorators will qualify in their trades in 2018.

Fianna Fáil Education spokesperson Charlie McConalogue said the figures are "extremely worrying".

He said: "Only this week the ESRI stated that we need to build 12,500 housing units a year to cope with demand, however, the lack of qualified tradespeople will put serious pressure on those targets.

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"Ten years ago, we had 700 bricklayers and 300 plasterers in training programmes. While the downturn in the construction industry has had an impact on the numbers entering trades, the introduction of fees for FÁS apprentices has also served as a major deterrent.

"The Government is now facing a major crisis. There are around 100,000 people on the social housing list because of the Government’s failure to act on the issue. Earlier this year the Taoiseach launched the Construction 2020 project, however, without skilled labour, this strategy will fall well short of the mark."

He said ministers need to introduce a plan to encourage more people into apprenticeships.

He added: "Confidence in the construction sector needs to be restored and apprenticeships must be marketed as a viable option for the thousands of people still on the Live Register.

"If the apprenticeship uptake remains at these chronically low levels, we'll be facing a massive skills shortage at a time when the country is about to embark on a housing construction drive."

(CD/JP)