Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 May 2016

Wednesday, 25 May 2016

Questions (134)

Carol Nolan

Question:

134. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of removing apprenticeship college fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12181/16]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The annual Student Contribution is levied on apprentices and students attending Institutes of Technology.

This contribution has been levied by Institutes of Technology in respect of apprentices since 2004, with FÁS/SOLAS paying 70% of the contribution and apprentices themselves paying the remainder. Following a Budget 2014 decision, SOLAS ceased making this payment to the Institutes of Technology and apprentices themselves now pay the full pro rata Annual Student Contribution.

Apprentices undertake two phases of their apprenticeship training in IOTs, phase 4 and phase 6. The average cost per student of the Annual Student Contribution is €1,000 per term for these two phases. There are 2,999 apprentices undertaking these two phases for the academic year 2015/2016 at a cost of €2,999,000. The estimated cost of removing apprenticeship college fees annually is approximately €3 million.