Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 November 2021
159. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of new apprentices registered to consortia-led apprenticeships that were already employed by the company for more than six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56386/21]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not collected by SOLAS. A 2019 survey of apprentices used to inform the development of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship indicated that, at that point, 8% of craft and 43% of non-craft apprentices worked for the same employer before registering as an apprentice.
In the same survey, 54% of craft apprentices and 78% of other apprentices worked full-time for an employer or as self-employed before registering as an apprentice. It should be noted that post-qualification work experience is an entry requirement for a number of postgraduate level apprenticeships.
