Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 December 2016
181. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of male and female apprentices in training by each employment sector and sub sector under new apprenticeship categories being rolled out by the Apprenticeship Council to date in 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40848/16]
View answer182. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Education and Skills the details of category 1 apprenticeships referred to in the 2015 Apprenticeship Council report on new apprenticeship programme proposals; the details of apprenticeships under this category that have been rolled out to date; the total take up to date; the gender break down; the timescale of the remaining category 1 apprenticeships being rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40849/16]
View answerTwo new statutory apprenticeships commenced in 2016. The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship was launched in September and the Industrial Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship in November.
The new Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship, developed jointly by the Insurance Institute of Ireland and Institute of Technology Sligo, will see apprentices work and receive practical on-the-job training 4 days each week and will study online from their place of work one day a week. The three year programme is at level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications and leads to an honours degree in Insurance Practice.
A total of 67 apprentices have started the programme, 38 male and 29 female.
The Industrial Electrical Engineering Apprenticeship was launched on 21 November 2016 with 12 registered apprentices, all of whom are male. The 2-year programme is at Level 7 on the National Framework of Qualifications and leads to a Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Electrical Engineering. The programme is targeted at qualified electricians who wish to progress further in their learning and their careers. The programme is ‘block-release’ with five stages, three of which comprise 21 weeks each on the job with two further periods of 15 weeks spent in formal training in the Institute of Technology Limerick.
The 13 further apprenticeships are expected to be implemented, subject to further development and validation, in 2017.
