Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 April 2021
1318. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the minimum an employer is allowed to pay an apprentice under the new consortia led apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/21]
View answerThe rates of pay for the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes are agreed by the partners within the relevant sector, or are set out in Sectoral Employment Orders (Construction Sector and Mechanical Engineering Building Services Contracting Sector). Rates vary between occupations and sectors but in all cases craft apprenticeship rates are expressed as a proportion of the qualified rate, increasing yearly from 33% of the qualified rate in year one to 90% in year four. Payment is also based on attainment of relevant skill, knowledge and competence achieved after successfully completing each phase of training. The most up to date rates are attached.
In the case of the 35 apprenticeships established since 2016, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer. Apprentices are excluded from the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000.
