Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 July 2015

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Questions (659)

Michael McGrath

Question:

659. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Education and Skills the annual spend on apprenticeship training in each year since 2010; 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. [29774/15]

Written answers

Minister for Education and Skills

The information sought is provided in the following table. An examination of the apprenticeship data demonstrates that the number of apprentices employed in the various sectors has declined over the period 2007-2013, which reflects the lower level of activity within the wider economy, but in particular the construction sector. The number of active apprentices in apprenticeship training with SOLAS at the end of the 2014 stood at 6,913.

However, there was a 40% increase in the number apprentice registrations in 2014 compared to 2013. The prognosis and forecast for future apprenticeships registrations remains strong. The number of apprentices being registered in 2015 by employers is 17% higher than the corresponding time in 2014. The increase in apprentice registration is primary being driven by employers in the electrical, engineering and motor sectors. The programme cost incurred for the delivery of the apprenticeship scheme has generally reduced since 2010. This reduction reflects a decline in the general apprentice and redundant apprentice populations. However, the expected programme costs for 2015 are forecasted to increase in line with growth in the apprentice population.

End of Year Live Population by Sector & Trade 2010 - July 13th 2015

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

-	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	July 13th 2015
Construction Total	3808	2761	1693	1197	1437	1531
Brick and Stonelaying	202	147	85	54	53	61
Cabinet Making	150	101	34	10	4	3
Carpentry and Joinery	1745	1169	718	406	471	547
Floor and Wall Tiling	21	15	7	4	2	1
Painting and Decorating	101	89	68	37	33	31
Plastering	175	115	63	40	28	34
Pipefitting						21
Plumbing	1396	1098	687	604	779	750
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry	0	0	0	0	16	19
Wood Machinery	5	4	2	0	0	0
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing	13	23	29	42	51	64
Electrical Total	3566	2997	2167	2030	2552	2812
Aircraft Mechanics	137	126	113	124	136	136
Electrical	3059	2557	1784	1622	2033	2252
Electrical Instrumentation	113	89	82	102	163	188
Electronic Security Systems	48	49	37	35	35	43
Instrumentation	19	16	17	17	25	26
Refrigeration	190	160	134	130	160	167
Engineering Total	964	943	893	1021	1233	1371
Farriery	23	32	31	23	20	26
Industrial Insulation	10	10	10	11	16	27
M.A.M.F.	421	392	359	395	480	512
Metal Fabrication	370	361	322	365	441	502
Sheet Metalworking	71	54	44	43	58	78
Toolmaking	69	94	127	184	218	226
Motor Total	1780	1586	1443	1440	1668	1873
Agricultural Mechanics	132	109	89	98	112	132
Construction Plant Fitting	163	142	127	147	166	187
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics	383	309	286	277	344	390
Motor Mechanics	914	861	808	815	932	1039
Vehicle Body Repairs	188	165	133	103	114	125
Printing & Paper Total	54	40	26	23	23	21
Printing	2	1	2	0	0	0
Bookbinding	1	1	0	0	0	0
Print Media	51	38	24	23	23	21
Grand Total	10172	8327	6222	5711	6913	7608

-	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000	€'000
Cost per Year:*	68,015	43,353	32,166	27,942	25,900	34,800

*excludes provision costs in institutes of Technology.