I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 100 and 104 to 106, inclusive, together.
The material sought by the Deputies in relation to the number of apprentices on each apprenticeship programme is set out in the tables.
Since its first call for proposals the Apprenticeship Council has been working with consortia to develop their proposals into sustainable apprenticeships that can be delivered on a nationwide basis. To date eleven new apprenticeships have been developed by the Council. During 2016 two new programmes got under way in Insurance Practice and Industrial Electrical Engineering. This year has seen the commencement of new apprenticeships in Polymer Processing Technology, Manufacturing Technology, Manufacturing Engineer, Accounting Technician and two programmes in International Financial Services (Associate & Specialist).
Apprenticeships in Commis Chef and two ICT apprenticeships (Network Engineer and Software Developer) have recently been validated and are currently approving employers and recruiting apprentices and are expected to get underway shortly.
Further new apprenticeships are to be submitted for validation to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) shortly and, subject to successful validation, it is expected that a further four new schemes will get underway later this year in various sectors including Engineering and Haulage.
Earlier this year we published the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 which sets out a series of detailed actions and annual targets on how we will achieve the commitments in the Action Plan for Education in this area.
A key commitment for this year set out in the Plan was the issuing of a second call for apprenticeship proposals to refresh the pipeline of proposals already established through the first call. The second call closed on the 1 September with 77 proposals received from a range of sectors and occupations. The Apprenticeship Council is currently evaluating these proposals and will report its findings in November.
Budget 2018 made a provision of €122m for apprenticeship training for next year. This represents an increase of almost 24% over the 2017 allocation and will support an apprentice population which is forecast to be in excess of 13,000 by the end of 2017 and new registrations which are forecast to be over 6,000 during 2018. As set out in the Plan we have targeted a further ten new schemes for 2018 which will bring the total new apprenticeships to 25, almost doubling the number of apprenticeship schemes on offer in Ireland.
Apprentice Population 2017 by Sector and Trade as 30/9/17
Construction Total
|
2692
|
Brick and Stonelaying
|
111
|
Cabinet Making
|
2
|
Carpentry and Joinery
|
1050
|
Floor and Wall Tiling
|
0
|
Painting and Decorating
|
77
|
Plastering
|
59
|
Plumbing
|
1211
|
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry
|
33
|
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing
|
149
|
Wood Machinist
|
0
|
Electrical Total
|
5058
|
Aircraft Mechanics
|
167
|
Electrical
|
4185
|
Electrical Instrumentation
|
292
|
Electronic Security Systems
|
108
|
Instrumentation
|
35
|
Refrigeration
|
271
|
Engineering Total
|
1742
|
Farriery
|
17
|
Industrial Insulation
|
42
|
M.A.M.F.
|
590
|
Metal Fabrication
|
654
|
*Pipefitting
|
77
|
Sheet Metalworking
|
119
|
Toolmaking
|
243
|
Motor Total
|
2334
|
Agricultural Mechanics
|
148
|
Construction Plant Fitting
|
238
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
|
509
|
Motor Mechanics
|
1279
|
Vehicle Body Repairs
|
160
|
Printing & Paper Total
|
18
|
Print Media
|
18
|
Priniting
|
0
|
Bookbinding
|
0
|
Grand Total
|
11844
|
*Please note: From end of 2016 Pipefitting is included in the Engineering Family of Trade.
Consortia Led Apprenticeships Total 2016/2017 @ 30 September 2017
|
Grand Total
|
Industrial Electrical Eng
|
30
|
Total
|
30
|
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 6)
|
30
|
Manufacturing Engineering (Level 7)
|
12
|
Polymer Processing Tech
|
17
|
Total
|
59
|
Accounting Technician
|
40
|
Insurance Practice
|
144
|
International Financial Services Associate
|
1
|
International Financial Services Specialist
|
8
|
Total
|
193
|
Total consortia led
|
282
|
Grand Total (All)
|
12,126
|
Apprentice Registrations
|
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017 (as of end September 2017)
|
Total
|
2,698
|
3,153
|
3,821
|
3,478
|