SOLAS Reports Record Numbers of Further Education and Training Places Taken up in 2024

SOLAS/13.01.2025

A record number of over 400,000 Further Education and Training (FET) places were taken up in 2024. That’s according to SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority who released provisional data for 2024 today (13.01.2025), which indicates another year of incredible growth and demand for FET, apprenticeships and construction skills training across Ireland last year. 

This is the second year of significant growth which means the learner base across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) has expanded by a quarter since the end of 2022. 

The data released by SOLAS for 2024 coincides with the second national FET strategy coming to an end and work underway on the development of new FET strategy for 2025-2029 that will set out a clear vision for further growth and transformation across the sector. 

The steady increase in FET participation experienced over the last five years shows that FET is now considered a valuable option, not only for individuals, but for communities, enterprise, and Irish society, helping to drive economic development and foster social cohesion. The figures also indicate increases in the rate of lifelong learning and widening participation amongst the most marginalised in our communities. 

Key provisional figures reported by SOLAS: 

Workforce Transformation   

  • Over 25,000 upskilling places taken up by employees through Skills to Advance in 2024 in areas such as sustainability, digital and robotics.

  • Almost 37,000 enrolments in eCollege (SOLAS’ Online Learning Platform) in 2024 – an increase of 47% from 2023.

Pathways for School Leavers 

  • An increase of 11.8% since 2019 in those choosing the primary alternative routes to direct university entry for school leavers (PLC, apprenticeships, and new tertiary degree programmes). 

Apprenticeships 

  • A record number of 9,352 new apprentices registered in 2024 with 77 different apprenticeship offerings, and close to 10,000 apprentice employers – crucial for supporting government targets set under Housing for All and the Climate Action Plan. 

  • Phase 2 apprentice training capacity expanded by 45% in 2024.

Commenting on the figures, Andrew Brownlee, CEO of SOLAS said: 

“We are delighted to see that for the first time ever, over 400,000 Further Education and Training (FET) places were taken up in 2024. This is testament to the important progress and reform that we have made as a sector on areas such as the delivery of FET, widening participation to those most marginalised in our communities, and ensuring that FET becomes a valuable and recognised learning pathway in Ireland. 

“This means we are now in a position where school leavers are increasingly choosing FET and apprenticeships as a first destination. We have created clear and accessible pathways between FET and Higher Education, with FET now being considered as the ‘go to’ place for up-skilling and reskilling, and recognised as a vital resource that can respond quickly to the critical skills needs in Ireland.

“With one-in-ten adults now impacted in some way by the learning supported by SOLAS, our ambition is to grow this further to half-a-million people by 2026 and ensure that FET can respond to the rapidly evolving skills environment and play a key role in the delivery of workforce transformation. 

“SOLAS, along with our key partners, including the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), has been on an incredible transformation journey over the last five years. Whilst we have achieved a great deal, it is important that we continue with this trajectory so that FET can be a pivotal driver of equality and inclusion, ensuring access to education for all and pathways, and that FET is recognised as an essential piece of national infrastructure in the same way that housing, transport or health is valued.”

The data, compiled by the Data Analytics Unit in SOLAS, details Further Education and Training participation, provided by 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) across Ireland. 

ENDS

Notes to Editor

For further information or to arrange media interviews, please contact Katie O’Rourke, SOLAS Communications Manager at: katie.orourke@solas.ie, Mob: 086-1920708

FET in 2024 – Provisional Data Reported by SOLAS 

  • FET Participation: Over 400,000 Further Education and Training (FET) places were taken up in 2024 which relates to 229,000 unique learners. 

    • FET includes both long and short duration programmes delivered on a full-time, part-time, evening or online basis from Levels 1-6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.  Many learners opt to undertake more than one course in a year. 

  • Construction and Green Skills: Over 150,000 cards issued across our construction skills schemes, fuelling the workforce in this critical industry, with more than 6,500 trained in essential Zero Energy Buildings (ZEB) and retrofitting skills by the end of November 2024.