Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
693. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocation for the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme in each year; the spend in each year in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52882/21]
View answerThe Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme was introduced under the July Jobs Stimulus 2020 to support ongoing apprentice registration and availability of apprentice jobs in preparation for the re-opening of the economy following COVID-19. The scheme is available to qualifying employers who register apprentices between 1 March 2020 and 31 Dec 2021.
The scheme supported a significant recovery of apprentice registrations in 2020 and into 2021 and has enabled apprentice registrations to not only remain on a par with registrations for 2019 but to exceed them. By end Sept 2021 there were 5,525 new registrations compared to 3,034 at end Sept 2020 and 4,451 by end Sept 2019. It is likely that registrations will comfortably exceed 6,500 for 2021 with continued strong registration in craft apprenticeships evident over the traditionally slow summer period in addition to continued growth in new apprenticeships.
2020 - €12m was allocated to the scheme under the July Jobs Stimulus programme. By the 22nd December 2020 815 claims had been approved on behalf of 1,068 apprentices with a spend totalling €2.14m for the year.
2021 - €14m allocation to the scheme. By October 4th 2021 claims for the year on behalf of 4,403 apprentices had been approved for payment at a cost of €8.8m YTD.
2022 - €9m has been allocated to fund additional payments to employers under the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme.
SOLAS are continuing to engage with employers to ensure that they apply for the scheme on a timely basis.
