Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 November 2021
188. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the wind turbine maintenance apprenticeship currently in development will be ready to be launched; the further education and training and higher education institutions which will deliver the training; if it will be craft or consortia-led; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55019/21]
View answerThe Wind Turbine Maintenance apprenticeship programme was submitted to Quality and Qualifications Ireland in June of this year for validation at level 6 NFQ. The apprenticeship is expected to commence in Q1, 2022, subject to completion of validation. The coordinating provider and education representative on the consortium is Kerry Education and Training Board and it is Kerry ETB which will deliver the apprenticeship, building on its expertise in delivering the Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician traineeship.
There are currently 25 craft apprenticeship programmes all of which were in existence prior to 2016. All apprenticeships established since 2016 are led by consortia consisting of employers, education and training providers and others. Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 both the existing craft and consortia-led models of apprenticeship will migrate to a single apprenticeship system during the lifetime of the plan.
