Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1105. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to ensure that key trades such as plumbers and electricians remain committed to apprenticeship programmes to ensure there is no shortfall in these sectors in future years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15874/21]
View answerApprenticeship is a demand driven programme and therefore the number of apprenticeship placements is determined by employers within any given sector. The impact of Covid-19 on all industries resulted in a decrease of new apprentice registrations generally in 2020 (5,326 down from 6,177 in 2019).
The introduction of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, which provides an employer grant of €3,000 payable over two years to support employers who take on and retain apprentices, has supported the recovery of apprentice registrations. Registrations in the final quarter of 2020 showed significant recovery with Q4 registrations exceeding those of the previous years.
The forthcoming Action Plan for Apprenticeship will set out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships with a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. Measures to support employer engagement in apprenticeship, particularly within the SME sector, will be integral to the delivery of that target.
