Poorly paid apprentices are taking their skills abroad in search of work

Ben Brown, a Dublin Bus apprentice, said if you have rent and car bills to pay, an apprenticeship is difficult to do

Anne-Marie Walsh

Electrician Martin Heffernan doubts he will play a part in the Government’s ambitious plans to end the housing crisis when he finishes his apprenticeship in a year’s time.

The fourth-year apprentice is thinking about emigrating to Australia when he gets his papers.