Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 May 2019
365. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of the Apprenticeship Council; the remit and membership of the board; the number of meetings held in each of the years since 2014; the key achievements to date; the proposed future actions of the board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19740/19]
View answer366. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of the work of the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee; the remit of the committee; the membership of the committee; the number of meetings held in each of the years since 2014; the key achievements to date; the proposed future actions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19742/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together.
The Apprenticeship Council was appointed by the then Minister for Education and Skills in November 2014. The establishment of the Council was a key action in the implementation of recommendations from the independent 2014 Review of Apprenticeship Training in Ireland. The Council is enterprise-led with representatives from business, trade unions, further and higher education bodies and the Department of Education and Skills.
The Council is tasked with the expansion of apprenticeship into new sectors of the economy. It's remit is to:
- Develop Calls for Proposals for apprenticeships in areas outside of the existing apprenticeships
- Examine and analyse proposals arising from the calls
- Report to the Department of Education and Skills on viable new apprenticeships - having particular regard to the sustainability of the proposals received
- Monitor the development by industry and education and training partners of the successful proposals into new apprenticeships, including curriculum development, awarding arrangements, duration and entry level.
In carrying out its role, the Council takes account of ongoing and future skills needs, including through data and reports produced by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit.
The Council’s achievements to date include overseeing 2 calls for proposals for new apprenticeships in 2015 & 2017. Twenty new apprenticeship programmes have been developed spanning a variety of sectors ranging from financial services, ICT to hospitality. The Council will continue to work on the expansion of the apprenticeship system with a further 33 programmes getting underway in 2019 and 2020 in various sectors including construction, engineering and agriculture. The Council has also developed detailed arrangements and guidance for the development of a new apprenticeship.
The National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (NAAC) is a sub-committee of the SOLAS board rather than a body appointed by the Minister or convened by the Department. I have asked SOLAS to send the information requested to the Deputy directly.
Details in respect of the Apprenticeship Council membership and meetings held are set out in the tabular statements.
Apprenticeship Council Members
|
Membership (as at May 2019) is as follows: |
|
Council Chairperson |
|
Pat O'Doherty, ESB Chief Executive |
|
Council Members |
|
1. Eamon Devoy, Irish Council of Trade Unions (ICTU) |
|
2. Tony Donohoe, Irish Business and Employer Confederation (IBEC) |
|
3. Sandra Guilfoyle, Jones Engineering |
|
4. Patricia King, Irish Council of Trade Unions (ICTU) |
|
5. Natasha Kinsella, Irish Hospitality Institute and Regional Skills (Dublin) |
|
6. Dr Bryan Maguire, Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) |
|
7. Tommy Moloney, G&T Crampton |
|
8. Dr Jim Murray, Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) |
|
9. Martin O'Brien, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) |
|
10. Phil O'Flaherty, Department of Education and Skills |
|
11. Noreen O'Hare, Microsoft Ireland |
|
12. Dr Vivienne Patterson, Higher Education Authority (HEA) |
|
13. Dr Mary-Liz Trant, SOLAS |
AC - Meetings per year
|
Year |
No. |
|
2014 |
2 |
|
2015 |
6 |
|
2016 |
8 |
|
2017 |
5 |
|
2018 |
6 |
|
2019* |
2 |
|
* As of 08/05/19 |
