Ministers James Lawless and Marian Harkin have announced a new summer training intake for Ireland’s aircraft mechanic apprenticeship programme, adding a second annual entry point aimed at giving the aviation maintenance sector more flexibility in how it brings on new talent.
The summer schedule will run from May to October and take in 45 apprentices a year from 2027, aligning training delivery with the maintenance schedules and operational patterns of Irish airlines and MRO providers. Training will be delivered through Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board’s facilities in Shannon, in partnership with Atlantic Aviation Group.
The move builds on a rapid expansion of apprenticeship places in recent years. Places have grown from 79 in 2024 to as many as 160 from September 2025, with Atlantic Aviation Group adding 75 places and Limerick and Clare ETB a further 80. The programme, delivered at NFQ level 6 and regulated under EASA rules, remains the primary route into aircraft engineering careers in Ireland, with TU Dublin, SETU Carlow and the Irish Aviation Authority also involved in its delivery.
Minister Lawless said the new summer intake is a direct response to feedback from employers, who told the Department that greater flexibility in training delivery would benefit the sector. Atlantic Aviation Group chief executive Shane O’Neill said the additional summer provision will allow apprentices from across Ireland’s aviation industry to progress their training and develop the advanced skills the sector needs.
The announcement lands at a busy moment for Irish aviation maintenance. Ryanair’s 50 million euro investment in a new maintenance hangar at Shannon Airport is expected to create around 400 jobs, adding further pressure on the pipeline of qualified aircraft mechanics. SOLAS has also been tasked with securing a dedicated site for a national Centre of Excellence for aircraft mechanic training by 2028, underlining the scale of the skills push now under way. With Ireland managing an estimated 60 per cent of the world’s leased aircraft and a domestic MRO sector valued at around 370 million euro, the apprenticeship expansion is being framed as essential groundwork for the industry’s continued growth.
