Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 December 2021
115. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprentices currently on waiting lists to access off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60713/21]
View answerCraft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes. Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021 had a significant impact on the ability of craft apprentices to access off-the-job training. As at the end of November, there were 11,382 craft apprentices waiting to start a phase of off-the-job training. Of these, 3,143 apprentices (27%) across the three phases have been scheduled and will begin training in December and January.
€20m capital investment has been supplemented by €17m additional COVID-linked funding in 2022 to deliver an additional 4,000 off-the-job training phases (across phases 2, 4 and 6). SOLAS, the HEA and education and training providers are continuing to work to ensure that craft apprentices are facilitated to complete their apprenticeship in as rapid a manner as is possible. Measures include the reform of Phase 2 off-the-job training to facilitate a third intake per annum, an opt-in rapid employer assessment which is being piloted at Phase 7 (on-the-job) for those apprentices who have completed Phase 6 and who have spent more than four years in their apprenticeship. Further measures are being explored within the context of ensuring that all learning outcomes and quality assurance procedures are in place to ensure that the integrity of the end qualification is maintained.
