Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 November 2014
167. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will review the charging of the student service charge to apprentices; her views on whether the charge is a disincentive and a barrier to apprentices' training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42351/14]
View answerThe Annual Student Contribution is levied on learners attending Institutes of Technology. The amount due from apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in Institutes of Technology during the academic year.
Since 2004, FÁS/SOLAS has paid over 70% of the Annual Student Contribution due in respect of apprentices, with apprentices themselves paying the part of the contribution relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS have ceased making payments to Institutes of Technology and apprentices pay the full pro rata Annual Student Contribution. The Budget 2014 decision was taken in the context of the difficult economic circumstances the country is in and the overall savings that my Department had to find in 2014 and future years.
I am deeply committed to supporting apprenticeship training in Ireland, both through the renewal of existing apprenticeships and the extension of the apprenticeship model to new areas. I will be focused on delivering in accordance with the recently published Implementation Plan to take forward the recommendations of the recent independent review of apprenticeship training in Ireland. I am confident that apprentices see the value in education and training on the journey to employment and will continue to participate in quality, relevant and well-designed programmes.
