Apprenticeship starts have remained at record levels, with 8,331 in the 12 months to April. At present, there are approximately 29,000 apprenticeships registered with FAS.

Having qualified craftspeople is essential for the economy, says Ray Kelly, manager for apprenticeship services at FAS.

"If we look at the construction sector alone, there's been phenomenal growth over the past few years. It's imperative for the State to have a steady supply of skilled and competent people supporting that growth, " he says.

An apprenticeship is where an individual works for an employer in a particular trade, learning the necessary skills to become a certified craftsperson. As part of the apprenticeship, he or she gets on-the-job training with the employer and off-the-job training with either FAS or an educational body such as Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT).

Usually lasting four years, an apprenticeship comprises seven phases, four of which are on the job. Phases two, four and six consist of offthe-job training. Apprentices are assessed at various stages throughout the apprenticeship and are allowed just two repeat attempts for off-the-job assessment.

"The Irish apprenticeship system is very good and is recognised throughout the world for giving a good standard of education and training, " says Kelly. "The apprentices are severely tested from the start of their apprenticeship right through to the very end. We have a drop-out rate of about 28pc, but that would be the lowest in the EU."

While the majority of apprentices work in the construction sector, there is a wide variety of apprenticeships available. From carton makers and bookbinders to metal fabricators, the list is quite extensive.

With an increasing number of foreign nationals coming to Ireland, concerns have been voiced that apprentices are being replaced by foreign workers. However, Kelly says there is no evidence to prove this, adding that the numbers taking up apprenticeships continue to increase 3pc year on year.

The make-up of apprentices has changed over the past few years. Today, less than one quarter of apprentices are aged 15-16, the vast majority being between 18 and 20.

About one fifth of apprentices range in age from 21 to 40.

There remains a shortage of women taking up apprenticeships. "It's been a huge disappointment for us, " says Kelly. "We offer a financial bursary to employers to encourage them to take on women, yet less than 1pc of the 29,000 apprentices are women. Female apprentices have said this is a great experience, but we can't seem to break that glass ceiling."

Women who do take up apprenticeships are often likely to progress in their careers, says Kevin O'Connell, head of electrical services engineering at DIT.

With 3,500 apprentices enrolled in DIT last year, the institute also provides opportunities for apprentices to proceed to higher-level studies. There are various craft-based technician programmes and evening programmes for qualified craftspersons.

Meanwhile, FAS is trying to introduce new occupations that would be more interesting to women and move away from the association with traditional crafts.

"To a certain extent everyone, no matter who they are, needs to be able to progress, " says O'Connell. "A lot of people have moved on from building site work. Some will go into running their own companies and some will rise up as technical sales people.

With our electrical services degree we have put a sort of formality into it. It means that students will now have qualifications for the future."