Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
811. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships for young persons that have been developed in the past two years; the sector skills areas covered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28969/15]
View answerAt the end of 2014, apprentice registrations for the existing 27 craft apprenticeships were up 40% on the same point in 2013. This positive trend in apprentice registrations is continuing across the majority of craft apprenticeships. At the end of June 2015 apprentice registrations were up 17% on the same time last year. The forecast for future apprenticeships registrations remains strong and it is predicted that craft based apprentice registrations will continue to grow incrementally up to 2018.
A new Stonecutting and Stonemasonry apprenticeship programme launched in April 2015. The apprenticeship provides participants with specialist skills from the processing of stone to carving, conservation and restoration along with monumental work. The apprenticeship has been developed by SOLAS in conjunction with the Office of Public Works and other key stakeholders and all off-the-job training phases will be delivered by Kerry ETB for the Conservation and Restoration of historic buildings and monuments as part of our national heritage strategy. In addition, SOLAS in collaboration with the Louth and Meath ETB Dundalk Training Centre is planning to commence a new Pipefitting apprenticeship on 28 September 2015.
I have recently received the Apprenticeship Council Report on New Apprenticeship Programme and I am currently in the process of examining the implications of the report in the light of the governance, budgetary and other considerations raised in their report. The Report recommends 25 proposals for priority development across a wide range of sectors and levels of the National Framework of Qualifications. The next stage of the process involves the detailed development of the proposals into apprenticeships, including curriculum development, quality assurance, approval of employers and a range of other issues.
