Further Education and Training Programmes Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 February 2015

Thursday, 12 February 2015

Questions (229)

Michael McGrath

Question:

229. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual spend on apprenticeship training in each year from 2011 to 2014; the number of apprentices in training in each year; the way this is broken down across employment sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6544/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

Following a number of years of decline, the number of registrations in the 27 existing apprenticeship trades - which are mainly in the construction, motor and engineering sectors - continues to rise as the employment and economic situation improves. This recovery in numbers is forecast to continue over the coming years. Reform of the Irish apprenticeship system through the renewal of these existing apprenticeships as well as the development of apprenticeships in new enterprise sectors is a priority for my Department. Table 1 sets out the information requested by the Deputy, based on information received from SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority. The costs outlined include the costs of allowances as well as provision costs associated with the off the job training phases in SOLAS Training Centres and in Institutes of Technology. Employers pay apprentices during the on-the-job elements of the programme.

Table 1.

End of Year Live Population by Sector & Trade 2011 - 2014

(Number of apprentices recorded as in employment at 31 December each year).

-	2011	2012	2013	2014
Construction Total	2761	1693	1197	1437
Brick and Stonelaying	147	85	54	53
Cabinet Making	101	34	10	4
Carpentry and Joinery	1169	718	406	471
Floor and Wall Tiling	15	7	4	2
Painting and Decorating	89	68	37	33
Plastering	115	63	40	28
Plumbing	1098	687	604	779
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry	0	0	0	16
Wood Machinery	4	2	0	0
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing	23	29	42	51
Electrical Total	2997	2167	2030	2552
Aircraft Mechanics	126	113	124	136
Electrical	2557	1784	1622	2033
Electrical Instrumentation	89	82	102	163
Electronic Security Systems	49	37	35	35
Instrumentation	16	17	17	25
Refrigeration	160	134	130	160
Engineering Total	943	893	1021	1233
Farriery	32	31	23	20
Industrial Insulation	10	10	11	16
M.A.M.F.	392	359	395	480
Metal Fabrication	361	322	365	441
Sheet Metalworking	54	44	43	58
Toolmaking	94	127	184	218
Motor Total	1586	1443	1440	1668
Agricultural Mechanics	109	89	98	112
Construction Plant Fitting	142	127	147	166
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics	309	286	277	344
Motor Mechanics	861	808	815	932
Vehicle Body Repairs	165	133	103	114
Printing & Paper Total	40	26	23	23
Printing	1	2	0	0
Bookbinding	1	0	0	0
Print Media	38	24	23	23
Grand Total	8327	6222	5711	6913
	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000
SOLAS Cost per Year:	43.928	32.883	28.491	26.069
HEA/IOTS Cost per year:	45.600	20.000	14.100	11.700