The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has hosted the first annual Careers in Construction forum.

The Construction Sector Skills Forum (CSSF) aims to boost participation in the construction industry, in particular, female participation.

This event will allow those in the construction industry to share ideas and to ensure the Government reaches its targets under Housing for All.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, said: "It is vital that the entire sector works together to increase the construction workforce.

"It is an essential to meeting the Housing for All targets set by the Government.

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"We have made significant progress in the past three years. Craft apprenticeship registrations for 2022 and 2021 were in total 13,254, an increase of almost 40% over the preceding two years.

"While this year alone there has been 4,009 registrations on the 30 construction and construction-related programmes last month.

"But it is clear there is room for improvement especially when it comes to female participation."

Minister Harris states that although one in twenty construction apprentices are now female this figure is "far too low when you consider there are more than 4,000 apprentices registered on construction programmes".

Minister Harris said: "The numbers are going in the right direction each year however, and I do believe that the roll out of modern methods of construction can fundamentally change how women perceive a career in the building industry and that over the coming years we will see the numbers increase."

The forum will be used by stakeholders such as Skillnet Ireland, Construction Industry Federation, Laois-Offaly Education and Training Board, National Apprenticeship Office, SOLAS and Government officials to network and inform strategic developments for construction skills provision.