Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 October 2021
254. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the total increased expenditure on apprenticeship in 2022 will be €34 million; the breakdown of expenditure of the €17 million to address the backlog in craft apprenticeships; the breakdown of the remaining €17 million in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51832/21]
View answerMinister Harris and I recently announced that an additional €34 million has been allocated for the continued support and development of the apprenticeship system. This funding which is essential for the new post Covid world of work is a fundamental part of a €122 million skills package under Budget 2022 and will ensure people will be equipped with the skills to help meet demand in areas such as housing, climate change and digital transformation.
€17 million has been set aside to address the backlog in apprentices off the job training; €5 million for the provision of additional places in training facilities and to assist with the emergency response to the training backlog for phase 2 training as announced by SOLAS on 23rd Sept, and €12 million for the Higher Education Authority for additional places in phases 4 and 6 training delivered by the Higher Education Institutes.
The current backlog for off-the-job, or workshop-based, training is being addressed and is underpinned by this further Government investment. Over 4,800 apprentices currently on a waiting list (40% of those waiting) for off-the-job, or workshop-based, training are on track to commence their training by the end of 2021. 100% will be returned to workshop-based training in 2022.
€9m will be used to fund additional payments to employers under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme. In order to drive increased employer participation in apprenticeship €7 million will be ring-fenced for a new employer grant for employers who do not already benefit from the payment of training allowances available for craft apprentices on off-the-job training. The balance i.e. €1 million will be set aside for the establishment of a new Apprenticeship Office to lead planned reforms to the Irish apprenticeship system.
A breakdown of these figures in tabular form is attached.
|
Backlog |
Allocated funding (millions) |
|
HEA |
€12 |
|
SOLAS |
€5 |
|
Total |
€17 |
|
Balance of funding |
|
|
AIS |
€9 |
|
Employer grant |
€7 |
|
NAO |
€1 |
|
Total |
€17 |
|
Overall total |
€34 |
