Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 24 March 2021
1172. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector in each of the years 2004 to 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15818/21]
View answerThe availability of the information requested in relation to the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector in each of the years 2004 to 2011 is currently being assessed by SOLAS and will be forwarded to the Deputy if available.
The Programme for Government has committed to taking the lead on boosting the availability and uptake of apprenticeship by providing public sector apprenticeship schemes. The forthcoming Action Plan for Apprenticeship will set out measures to widen employer engagement with apprenticeship in both the public and private sectors with the target of reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per annum by 2025. In addition to the Programme for Government commitment, the role of the public sector in apprenticeship recruitment was raised by a number of stakeholders during the consultation process and proposals in this area are informing the new action plan.
