Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021

Wednesday, 31 March 2021

Questions (763)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

763. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason SOLAS has changed the policy for apprentice electricians who are now required to resit their course for a further period until the end of May or June 2021 having already sat their block for weeks online; the reason SOLAS is now requiring them to sit a further block having done this block online; the reason SOLAS has prevented them from sitting their exams online which were due to be held in mid-March 2021; if he will review this policy to ensure that these apprentices are not being held back or delayed as a result of having sat their course online; if these apprentices will be allowed sit their exams online without delay; if other immediate arrangements will be made to allow them to sit their exams to allow them return on-site without delay (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17405/21]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

There has been a 90% increase in the apprentice population since 2015. Existing off-the-job training facilities, particularly in Electrical and Plumbing apprenticeships, had been coming under increasing pressure to facilitate the rapid growth in apprentice population. COVID-19 related suspension of practical training in Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities have had a significant impact on waiting times. When permissible, practical training is also operating at approximately 50% normal capacity to ensure adherence to public health guidance.

Face to face training was suspended on the 11th January, 2021. Education and training providers have been able to front-load remote training on theoretical aspects of apprenticeship to ensure that off-the-job training continues, albeit not in the important practical elements of the apprenticeship programmes.

A phased return to face to face training has commenced for those apprentices who were close to completion of phase 2, or who had commenced phase 4 or 6 when training was suspended in January 2021. Where craft apprentices have been prioritised to return to face to face training, there is a focus on revision of the theoretical concepts and application of this learning to the practical elements of the course. This provides apprentices with the support required to complete and pass their practical assessments at the first attempt.

€20M in capital expenditure has been allocated to SOLAS and the HEA to facilitate an additional 4,000 places across the system in the coming period to help address the existing backlogs and to ensure that the system is appropriately positioned to support the expected numbers of registrations into the future.