There are a number of difficulties with the apprenticeship system at the moment, according to a local guidance councillor.
Gerry Reilly is the careers guidance councillor in St. MacCartan's College in Monaghan Town.
His comments come as the first CAO deadline is this Sunday (February 1st) at 5pm.
The government is encouraging people to consider doing an apprenticeship, with 78 routes available.
However, Mr. Reilly believes that there is a difficulty accessing apprenticeships.
Speaking on the Joe Finnegan Show this morning, he called for a more formal approach to apprenticeship applications.
Mr. Reilly explained: "There is a number of difficulties with the apprenticeship system as it stands at the minute.
"There is a difficulty accessing apprenticeships in the first place. It can be a bit more about who your parents know than anything else.
"I'd like to see a more formal approach to applying for a apprenticeship, where the demand is actually met by the system.
"I'm in an all boys school, and most of the lads that I know that do an apprenticeships, yes they are working, and yes there are jobs there," Mr. Reilly added.
