A member of the Seanad is calling for courses to be made available through local Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to protect the traditional practice of thatching.

Fine Gael senator Manus Boyle warned that the "uniquely Irish" craft of thatching is at risk of dying out unless greater investment is made in training people.

He said that, as inter-generational training and sharing of skills is rarer now, courses must be provided through the various ETBs around the country "to ensure a pipeline of accredited craftspeople" is in place so specialist crafts survive, including thatching.

Boyle said: "The thatched house has become symbolic of rural Ireland, but the traditional skill is at a critical point, with a huge shortage of thatchers to repair and look after these buildings.

"It's estimated that there are just 15-20 trained thatchers in Ireland, which is an alarming statistic when one considers that there are approximately 2,000 thatched buildings that need constant maintenance," Boyle added.

He noted that the Heritage Council, in partnership with the Kilkenny and Carlow ETB, set up a course this year in recognition that thatching is a "critically endangered skill".

The senator called for courses like this to be expanded to run in parts of the country where there is a particular deficit in these skilled craftspeople.

He noted the example of the Donegal thatching school, saying that high numbers apply for the weekend course, and Donegal would therefore be a good candidate for an ETB course in thatching.

"More broadly speaking, plans must be put in place to ensure other traditional craftworkers, such as stone masons and blacksmiths, also prevail," Boyle said.

"The Heritage Council offers the opportunity to upskill for craftspeople already working in the construction sector," the senator added.

However, he said: "The current geographical spread of courses is scattered. With the spotlight firmly fixed on ensuring we have a strong construction labour force, accredited traditional skill courses should also be offered by ETBs and third-level institutions alongside mainstream construction courses.

"Traditional craftspeople support our construction sector and the viability of all buildings, both for housing and heritage," Boyle added.