Grants are set to be offered to employers to take on apprentices as part of a push to increase the number of people doing apprenticeships.
A new plan aims to get 10,000 people taking on apprenticeships every year by 2025 - doubling the number from last year.
Employers will get around €3,000 per year, per apprentice they take on from 2022.
There will be extra supports for those who take on women, lone parents, people with a disability and people living in direct provision as part of a push to diversify apprenticeships.
A bursary programme is also being developed for people from those groups or disadvantaged backgrounds that would see them paid €5,000 a year, which will be capped at 100 members.
Full details of the action plan are set to be announced later today.
Higher Education Minister Simon Harris says there are "so many opportunities in apprenticeships to help people get their lives back on track after this pandemic".
He has previously called on State bodies to take on more apprentices.
He said the public sector in particular has been 'appalling' in taking on apprentices.
Additional reporting by Stephen McNeice
