Toolmaking and Precision Engineering Apprenticeship

This apprenticeship trains you to design, manufacture and maintain the precision tools, dies, jigs and moulds that are essential to modern manufacturing. You alternate between on-the-job training with an employer and off-the-job training at an Education and Training Board (ETB) centre or Institute of Technology. A typical week on-site involves operating CNC machines, grinding equipment and EDM (electrical discharge machining) units to tight tolerances measured in microns. You develop expertise in technical drawing, metrology and materials science. Specialist pathways may lead you into sectors such as medical device manufacturing, aerospace components or injection moulding, all of which are significant employers across the west and south of Ireland.

Entry is through the apprenticeship route, so you must first secure a contract with a registered SOLAS employer who will sponsor you throughout the programme. A Leaving Certificate is the typical academic baseline, with passes in Maths and English/Irish being expected; Higher-level Maths and Technical Graphics or Engineering are strongly advantageous. Some employers, particularly in the med-tech sector in Galway, Limerick or Cork, may require a Grade D3 or better in Ordinary-level Maths as a minimum. There is no CAO points process; selection is employer-led, often including a practical aptitude or interview assessment. Mature applicants (over 23) without a full Leaving Certificate may be considered if they can demonstrate relevant workshop experience or a QQI Level 5 Engineering award. SOLAS apprenticeship.ie is the official registration and vacancy portal.

Demand for skilled toolmakers and precision engineers in Ireland is consistently strong, particularly given the continued growth of the medical device and pharmaceutical sectors. The national shortage of craft-qualified manufacturing personnel means that newly qualified toolmakers are generally recruited quickly. Gross annual salaries for newly qualified toolmakers typically range from around €38,000 to €48,000, rising significantly with experience and CNC specialisation. The Western and Southern regions offer the highest concentration of vacancies, though opportunities exist nationally.