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Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 July 2019

Tuesday, 23 July 2019

Questions (336, 337, 338, 339, 346, 347, 348, 349, 450, 451, 452, 453, 472, 473, 474, 475, 485, 486, 487, 488)

Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

336. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017. [31462/19]

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Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

337. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprenticeships developed since 2017. [31463/19]

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Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

338. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017. [31464/19]

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Danny Healy-Rae

Question:

339. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Education and Skills if equality of allowances will be sought for apprenticeships in budget 2020; and the estimated cost in this regard. [31465/19]

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Pat Casey

Question:

346. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if equality of allowances will be sought for apprenticeships in budget 2020; and the estimated cost in this regard. [31555/19]

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Pat Casey

Question:

347. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Education and Skills if new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017. [31556/19]

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Pat Casey

Question:

348. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships developed since 2017. [31557/19]

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Pat Casey

Question:

349. Deputy Pat Casey asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017. [31558/19]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

450. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if all new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32148/19]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

451. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships developed since 2017 [32149/19]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

452. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32150/19]

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Carol Nolan

Question:

453. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if equality will be ensured in respect to allowances for all apprenticeships in budget 2020; the estimated cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32151/19]

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Kathleen Funchion

Question:

472. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if new apprenticeship programmes developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017. [32370/19]

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Kathleen Funchion

Question:

473. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships developed since 2017. [32371/19]

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Kathleen Funchion

Question:

474. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017. [32372/19]

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Kathleen Funchion

Question:

475. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek equality of allowances for all apprenticeships in budget 2020; and the estimated cost in this regard. [32373/19]

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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

485. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if each new apprenticeship programme developed since 2017 will receive the same allowances for apprentices attending college as apprenticeships developed prior to 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32649/19]

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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

486. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeships developed since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32650/19]

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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

487. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled per apprenticeship programme developed since 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32651/19]

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Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Question:

488. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Education and Skills if he will seek equality of allowances for each apprenticeship in budget 2020; the estimated cost in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32652/19]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 to 339, inclusive, 346 to 353, inclusive, 472 to 475, inclusive, and 485 to 488, inclusive, together.

This Government is committed to the ongoing expansion and development of our national apprenticeship system, as is evident by a year on year increase in the budget allocation. This year’s allocation for apprenticeship training is €142m which represents an increase of over 16% on the 2018 allocation of €122m. Since 2015 new apprenticeship registrations have increased by 80% with 5,648 new registrations by the end of 2018. In addition, following two calls for proposals in 2015 and 2017 by the Apprenticeship Council, to date twenty new apprenticeship programmes have been developed and are now operational to complement the existing 25 craft apprenticeships.

It is important to note that the structure of these new consortia led apprenticeship programmes are different to those in the craft trades. Our new consortia-led apprenticeships offer more flexibility to employers in meeting their skill needs both in the duration of the programme and in terms of the delivery of the off-the-job training. These new apprenticeship programmes vary in length from 2 to 4 years and have different methods of off-the-job training such as one day per week, and on-line blended learning rather than the traditional block release of up to 22 weeks in an education setting, as is the case in the craft trades. While there is no training allowance paid to apprentices undertaking one of our new apprenticeships, I am aware that some employers engaged in the system have raised this as an issue. However, any change in this regard, which has not yet been costed by the Department, would have to form part of the normal budgetary process and be considered in the broader context of competing demands and the overall availability of resources.

Details of apprentice population per apprenticeship programme as requested by the deputy are set out in the tabular statement in the following link.

Apprenticeships

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