Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
157. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average waiting time for craft apprentices to access off-the-job training; the number of apprentices waiting to access same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56325/21]
View answerCraft 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. 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.
At the end of October 10,333 craft apprentices were waiting for access to off-the-job training. 6,426 of these were waiting over 6 months, of which 3,942 of these were waiting longer than one year. The average waiting time is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy once available.
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.
2022 will see an increase of over 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 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 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. Public updates on actions taken to address the waiting lists are posted on www.apprenticeship.ie to ensure that information is available to apprentices, employers and prospective apprentices.
