Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
701. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the 7,000 additional off-the job training places for craft apprentices impacted by Covid-19 will be in place; the total off-the-job training capacity when additional places are added; the cost of each additional place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53016/21]
View answer2022 will see an increase in excess of 3,100 off-the-job training places being made available across craft apprenticeship phases 2, 4 and 6 over 2021 scheduled numbers (pre-COVID expected provision). This additional capacity has already begun to come on-stream from September 2021 and will be delivered under a three-step response plan agreed by SOLAS, HEA and education and training providers. The immediate focus is on the three craft apprenticeships with the longest waiting lists, namely Electrical, Plumbing and Carpentry & Joinery.
For Phase 2, which is generally a 22 week training period delivered in ETBs, a focused, time-limited response will increase the number of intakes per year from two to three. Planning is also underway for further expansion of workshops to facilitate additional classes in 2022. Phase 2 off-the-job training capacity is expected to increase to 5,390 places in 2022. Phase 4 and 6 off-the-job training is delivered in Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities. In the region of 8,800 off-the-job training places will be provided across phases 4 and 6 in 2022, growing to over 9,000 off-the-job training places the following year.
€17m additional funding was provided under Budget 2022 to facilitate the response to the backlogs across SOLAS and the HEA. Subject to continued access to workshops and training facilities in addition to the rollout of additional places, it is expected that the majority of craft apprentices waiting for off-the-job training at Phases 4 and 6 will be called in the early months of 2022. The waiting list for Phase 2 apprentices is expected to be completely cleared by the end of 2022.
