Teachers display placards in support of Palestine at conference in Killarney

Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins later said that he shared the protesters' sentiment about the “truly distressing” situation in Gaza.

He said the Government has been calling for a ceasefire and more humanitarian aid and it would be articulating the concerns expressed at the TUI congress today on Gaza at EU level.

While on stage, Mr Collins apologised for “presumptive Taoiseach” Simon Harris’ absence at the congress in the INEC, Killarney. And he said that access to education and making sure everyone can reach their full potential was “absolutely central” to solving our increasingly complex international problems.

Continuing to boost apprenticeships was vital to solving the pressing housing crisis, he said. He welcomed the 25% increase in craft apprenticeship registrations since 2019 and praised the 73 apprenticeship education programs now in operation and said another 16 are due to start this year.

But the capacity of the craft apprenticeship system needs to increase quickly to meet demand, he said. When government colleagues talk of the pressing need to build some 300,000 houses by 2030 to address the housing crisis, apprenticeships are mentioned in that same breath, he said.

And a “strong pipeline” of crucial skills including electricians, plumbing, metal fabrication and pipe fitting must now be developed, he said.

Mr Colllins also said that he was impressed with the “outstanding work” of Youthreach, the organisation which offers young people an education outside of the mainstream model which can lead on to further education, training or employment.

But TUI President David Waters, responding to Mr Collins, said that Youthreach “has for too long been consigned to the margins”.

“This is a programme that deals with some of the most vulnerable in our society. Students who would have otherwise fallen through the cracks of the education system, are thrown a lifeline because of Youthreach," Mr Waters said.

“Yet minister, we still have centres operating in extremely poor conditions. The continued division in terms of the treatment of teacher and resource person is sapping morale to breaking point."

Aligning Youthreach centres with the second-level calendar, which TUI has worked with government on through the Workplace Relations Commission, “would help prevent burnout, increase morale, and ultimately offer a much better educational experience to students,” Mr Waters said.

Mr Waters received a standing ovation from delegates when he called on the minister to condemn the “scandalous violence” in Gaza and the “savagery” of the Israeli Defence Forces.

“On behalf of Congress, I urge you, your government colleagues, and Minister Harris in particular, to be the moral compass that the world currently needs, and, by all means necessary, to redouble your efforts to get a complete cessation to the grotesque violence we are witnessing on a daily basis and help create a lasting peace for the region.” 

Addressing the congress earlier this afternoon, TUI General Secretary Michael Gillespie also acknowledged the “long shadow” cast over the world by the wars in Gaza and Ukraine which have impacted so many children.

“These young souls caught in the crossfire endure most of the cruelty of the conflicts,” Mr Gillespie said. “Children have lost family members, fled their homes, and witnessed unimaginable horrors. The trauma they endure will echo for decades, affecting their development, mental health, and physical well-being.

“In Ireland we play our small part in mitigating the effects by welcoming over 15,000 students from Ukraine into our schools.

“Meanwhile in Gaza, 14,000 children have already perished, countless others are injured, and their education has been completely disrupted. The relentless bombing continues.” 

He called for a “unified voice” from the TUI in opposing war.