A new €500,000 bursary programme has been introduced to support construction apprentices connected to County Roscommon, in a move aimed at strengthening Ireland’s future building workforce and addressing skills shortages.
The initiative has been created by Ballymore, led by chairman and chief executive Sean Mulryan, and will run over five years. It is designed to help individuals from Roscommon pursue apprenticeships across a range of construction and technical trades.
The scheme is being delivered in partnership with Galway & Roscommon Education and Training Board, which will administer the bursary and support apprentices throughout their training.
The fund is open to applicants who were born in Roscommon, educated there, or currently live in the county. It targets both school-leavers and adults returning to education who want to train in construction-related careers.
The pilot programme was formally introduced at Roscommon Community College, where Sean Mulryan was once a student. The initiative forms part of wider industry efforts to increase the number of skilled workers entering construction at a time of strong demand for housing and infrastructure development.
Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless, welcomed the bursary, describing skilled trades as essential to sustaining the construction workforce. He said industry-backed initiatives can play an important role in expanding apprenticeship participation and supporting national workforce needs.
Minister of State for Further Education and Apprenticeship, Marian Harkin, also praised the programme, noting that partnerships between employers and training providers are key to delivering the skilled workers required for housing and infrastructure projects.
The bursary will support apprentices training in multiple areas, including:
Brick and stone laying
Carpentry and joinery
Plumbing
Plastering, painting and decorating
Scaffolding
Stonecutting and stonemasonry
Toolmaking
Heavy vehicle mechanics
Wood manufacturing and finishing
Civil engineering technician (Level 6)
Supply chain management associate (Level 6)
Grants will typically range from €2,000 to €3,000, paid in stages as apprentices progress through their training. Higher payments are planned for trades where participation is currently low, such as bricklaying and scaffolding.
Although apprenticeship registrations have been increasing nationwide, growth is not keeping pace with projected labour demand driven by major housing and infrastructure programmes. The Government’s long-term housing targets and large-scale public works are expected to require a significant expansion of the construction workforce.
Recruitment challenges are already evident across the sector, making initiatives that remove financial barriers to training particularly important.
The bursary is also intended to encourage more people to consider skilled trades as a long-term career path, offering an alternative to traditional university routes and supporting pathways into employment, self-employment, or specialist technical roles.
Applicants must be registered with an employer approved by SOLAS and meet residency or education criteria linked to Roscommon.
Applications for the programme are expected to open in 2026, with further details available through the education and training board.
Industry leaders say initiatives like this will be essential if Ireland is to meet future construction demand — and ensure the next generation of skilled workers is ready to deliver.
