Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 23 June 2020
124. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills the actions taken to support greater participation of young women and other under-represented groups in apprenticeship programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11693/20]
View answer125. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the further national expansion of the existing pilot access to apprenticeship scheme run by TU Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11694/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 124 and 125 together.
SOLAS, in partnership with the HEA and with the support of the Apprenticeship Council, intends to continue developing access pathways with all providers, including TU Dublin, during 2020 and into the 2020-2021 academic year. Following a call for proposals to provide 500 pre-apprenticeship places as part of PLC provision, 31 PLC Pathways to Apprenticeship programmes have been approved to commence in 2020. The expected number of places provided across the 31 locations is estimated at 589.
Work in the area of access to apprenticeships for under-represented groups is ongoing and, in addition to pre-apprenticeship programmes, initiatives underway to boost apprenticeship across tertiary education include:-
- the roll out of the 2020 Generation Apprenticeship competition at second level with 156 second level schools, Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres (see www.gacomp.ie);
- Launch of an ‘Apprenticeship Jobs’ platform in April 2019 to enhance the accessibility of apprenticeship job vacancies;
- a new online facility for approving new apprenticeship employers went live in October 2019 to streamline the application process for employers wishing to take on apprentices.
