Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 4 December 2018
215. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase funding and capacity for apprenticeships in view of their importance in the workforce; the type of promotion his Department utilises to inform persons of apprenticeship opportunities; the way in which apprenticeships are marketed to students who do not view them as a viable alternative to third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50681/18]
View answerApprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme, which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers within each sector. My Department is committed to supporting the increased registration of apprentices and the expansion of the apprenticeship model into new sectors of the economy. The 2019 budget allocation for apprenticeship training is €142m which represents an increase of over 16% on the 2018 allocation of €122m.
Arising from two calls for apprenticeship proposals issued by the Apprenticeship Council in 2015 and 2017, 17 new apprenticeships have now been developed in a range of new occupations, including financial services, engineering, ICT, hospitality, logistics and accounting. Further new apprenticeships will get underway throughout 2019 in a variety of sectors including construction, engineering, horticulture and agriculture. These new programmes, once developed, will add to and complement the range of apprenticeships currently on offer in developing the skill needs of our economy.
This Government is also working to address the visibility of apprenticeship and has put significant additional resources into this area. A national promotional campaign, Generation Apprenticeship, has been underway since May 2017, led by the Apprenticeship Council and SOLAS. The campaign promotes apprenticeship on TV and radio along with social media platforms that include Twitter; LinkedIn; Facebook and Instagram. It has been designed to influence parents, teachers and potential apprentices on the career paths and further educational opportunities arising from apprenticeship programmes.
As set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland, SOLAS has completed a review on pathways to participation in apprenticeship. The purpose of the review is to ensure that our national apprenticeship system is more reflective of the range and diversity of our population, more inclusive of diverse backgrounds and abilities and that apprenticeship opportunities are more readily accessible to all. Work is already underway in many of the areas identified for action and SOLAS will lead implementation of the actions, working closely with apprenticeship partners and stakeholders, in particular employers, education and training providers and apprentices themselves. The review is available on SOLAS’s website www.solas.ie.
Work is also underway in SOLAS on a new employer portal initiative which will provide capability to approved employers to advertise apprenticeships, as well as other value-added services. The new portal is expected to be rolled out in 2019 on successful completion of a pilot phase.
In addition, an independent review of career guidance which is being carried out by Indecon International Consultants will examine the quality and range of information and resources available to students in schools and other settings. This will include an examination of how apprenticeship opportunities are presented to students in our schools.
