Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 3 March 2015
125. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the apprenticeship Bill; if she is reviewing the educational content that currently exists for apprentices in this Bill; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8734/15]
View answerFollowing on from the Apprenticeship Review, an Apprenticeship Implementation Plan was published last year. The Implementation Plan sets out a phased approach, recognising the need to progress work on existing apprenticeships, determine demand from new enterprise sectors through a call for proposals, develop the new apprenticeships and then embed new governance arrangements in legislation. Curricular content is not covered in current apprenticeship legislation and it is not envisaged that this would change.
Work on the Heads on the Apprenticeship Bill has not yet begun, as it needs to be informed by the work of the Apprenticeship Council in progressing the call for proposals and developing new apprenticeships. A review of 5 of the existing apprenticeship trades has recently been completed and new curricula are scheduled to be rolled out later this year. Accelerated arrangements for reviewing the remaining trades have been agreed between QQI and SOLAS.
