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Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021

Thursday, 9 September 2021

Questions (821, 822)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

821. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the off-the-job training capacity for each craft apprenticeship in 2019, in tabular form; the off-the-job training capacity for each craft apprenticeship in 2021 with Covid and without Covid restrictions in place in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41724/21]

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Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

822. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average duration of each craft apprenticeship, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41725/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 821 and 822 together.

Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes. They comprise of a standard seven phase programme of alternating on-the-job and off-the-job phases. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. The minimum duration of each craft apprenticeship is four years, or 208 weeks. Attachment 2 details each craft apprenticeship and the minimum duration required to meet the standard. The current average duration of each programme is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy once available.

Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021 had a significant impact on the ability of craft apprentices to progress through their course.

In addition to the general activity surrounding a return to on-site learning across the further and higher education sector a number of specific actions were put in place to support craft apprentices to progress in their training in a timely manner:-

- Craft apprentices were prioritised for a return to on-site learning on 8 March 2021.

- Delivery of off-the-job phases continued over the summer, subject to public health advice and with restricted numbers. This approach assisted institutions and providers in preparing and organising the safe return of larger numbers in the autumn.

- €20m in capital funding has been provided to increase training capacity in the system with SOLAS and HEA allocating this to ETBs and HEIs. This will facilitate an additional 4,000 craft apprenticeship places across the system in the coming period and into the future.

- An additional €12 million was allocated for 2021 to support additional classes and teaching capacity to ameliorate COVID-19 measures at higher education level (Phases 4 and 6).

- A three-step plan to tackle the backlog in craft apprenticeship off-the-job training over the coming period by SOLAS and further and higher education providers is well developed. Step 1 of the plan includes an increase in the number of training workshops available across further and higher education from September 2021 onwards. Steps 2 and 3 involve tailored emergency approaches to accelerate the throughput of apprentices at Phases 2 and 6 for a designated period of time.

National annual capacity for the three off-the-job training phases has been impacted as a result of lockdowns and the closure of on-site training over the last number of months. The data attached in attachment 1 is based on the following assumptions:

2019 data is based on off-the-job phases which started on or after 1/1/2019 and finished before 1/1/2020. As such, courses which started in 2018 and finished in 2020 are excluded. The capacity total is based on the number of places allocated to each craft apprenticeship across phases 2/4/6.

2021 COVID data is based on off-the-job phases which started on or after 1/1/2021 and have a planned finish date before 1/1/2022. As such, it includes completed phases, those currently being scheduled and courses which are ongoing as at 7th September.

2021 non-COVID data (Column D) is an estimation. For phases 4 and 6 this is based on 2019 figures plus additional capacity coming on stream from September, the 2021 schedule has been used for phase 2.

table1

table2

Question No. 822 answered with Question No. 821.
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