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Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 July 2021

Thursday, 8 July 2021

Questions (52)

Steven Matthews

Question:

52. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices recruited in 2021 under the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme; the targets for the scheme for the remainder of 2021 and for 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36689/21]

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Written answers

The Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme comprises a €2,000 payment when employers register a new apprentice, followed by an additional €1,000 payment one year later where that apprentice is retained. The scheme was initially approved under the July Jobs Stimulus and extended in Budget 2021 for apprentices registering between March 2020 and June 2021.

The intention of the scheme is to ensure that apprenticeship will play a key part in supporting economic recovery at the reopening of the economy following COVID-19. It had been anticipated that the initial duration and subsequent expansion of the scheme to mid-2021 would cover the re-opening period, however this has not transpired meaning that employers have not had the opportunity to avail of the scheme and re-opening is only now happening in a significant way in the period to year end. On the 23rd June the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science announced the expansion of the scheme to include apprentices registered in the second half of 2021.

Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes, which aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employer base in any area or sector. Take-up of the incentivisation scheme is therefore similarly demand led.

3,197 apprentices have been registered to date in 2021. Applications to the AIS have been made in respect of 2,225 apprentices (70%). It is anticipated that there will be in the region of 6,450 apprentice registrations in 2021, all of which are eligible to apply under the incentivisation scheme.

It is not anticipated that the AIS will be extended beyond 2021. Actions set out under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 will see employers of apprentices other than the 25 craft apprenticeships become eligible for an annual base grant paid per apprentice from early 2022. The level of grant will be announced by year end. Employers of craft apprentices benefit from the direct payment of training allowances by ETBs to apprentices during their three periods of off-the-job training (phases 2, 4 and 6 of a seven phase craft apprenticeship). This will continue for the 25 apprenticeships which are currently covered under this process.

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