Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 December 2020

Tuesday, 15 December 2020

Questions (425)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

425. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the details of the decline in numbers of apprenticeship entrants to full-time education courses as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43564/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills (Deputy Niall Collins)

Apprenticeship is a programme of structured education and training which formally combines and alternates learning in the work place with learning in an education or training centre. There are currently 59 apprenticeships available, the majority of which deliver off-the-job elements through higher education settings. The 25 craft apprenticeships entail one period of off-the-job training in a Training Centre and two periods of off-the-job training in an Institute of Technology/Technological University.

The impact of COVID-19 measures on businesses has resulted in a decrease of approximately 18% in new apprentice registrations for the year to end November (from 5,812 in 2019 to 4,792 in 2020).

The Government funded the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme (AIS) under the July Stimulus Package. It has supported a significant recovery in registration numbers from a monthly low of 77 in April to 918 in October and 840 in November, exceeding registrations for the same time period last year. The AIS provides for an employer grant of €3,000 which is paid over two years for each new apprentice recruited between 1st March 2020 and 30th June 2021.

It is expected that new apprentice registrations will now surpass 5,000 for the year, in the region of 4,000 of which will be eligible for the incentive payment.

The Programme for Government committed to growing the number of apprenticeships significantly between now and 2025, increasing the total number of new registrations to at least 10,000 per annum. As part of this commitment, the new Action Plan for Apprenticeship, covering the next 5 year period, is nearing finalisation and will look at new ways of structuring, funding and promoting apprenticeships.