Over €20.5 million in new Government funding has been announced to expand apprenticeship capacity across the higher education sector.

The investment will deliver 99 additional craft training blocks and support eight consortium-led apprenticeship programmes, creating almost 1,600 extra training places nationwide.

The expansion aims to meet rising demand for skills in areas such as electrical, carpentry, plumbing, mechanics and advanced manufacturing.

Speaking to Ocean FM News, Cllr Thomas Walsh says the increased capacity is vital to meeting housing targets and keeping young people employed in the region.