Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2021
473. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total saving incurred in 2020 and the projected savings in 2021 as a result of backlogs in apprentices accessing off-the-job training due to the State paying less in allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62681/21]
View answerCraft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes which are delivered across the further and higher education and training sectors. They consist of four periods of on-the-job training interspersed with three periods of off-the-job training. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in either ETB Training Centres, Institutes of Technology or Technological Universities, during this time craft apprentices receive a training allowance payment, the level of which is determined with reference to the relevant sectoral payment agreements.
COVID-related public health measures impacted on face to face training in a number of ways. Each of which had a different implication for the level of expenditure on off-the-job training allowances paid to craft apprentices.
For periods of complete closure of face-to-face training, those apprentices who had been scheduled to attend off-the-job training were retained on the off-the-job training phase and continued to receive a training allowance during this period. The retention of apprentices on Phase 2, 4 or 6, allowed for apprentices to engage with the restricted level of theory based training and remote assessment which could be delivered, given the practical course content, as these became available in 2020 and early 2021. It also provided surety for apprentices in relation to income during the closure of construction sites in early 2020.
When face-to-face training was allowed, it operated at 50% - 60% normal capacity until September 2021 to ensure adherence to public health distancing guidance. The level of expenditure on training allowance payments was therefore reduced in accordance with the reduced system capacity during this time.
Additional capacity coming on-stream from September 2021, combined with the potential for apprentices to receive an increased training allowance will be reflected in total expenditure for 2021. Apprentices are not penalised on their training allowances for operational issues that may arise. In circumstances where there has been a delay by SOLAS due to lack of available provision in the offer of a training place the apprentice may be entitled to payment of one phase rate higher e.g. on Phase 2 such apprentices may be paid the Phase 4 rate. On Phase 4 the apprentice may be paid the Phase 6 rate and on Phase 6 apprentices may be paid the fourth year rate.
The total saving declared in 2020 for the Apprenticeship programme was €23.2m. SOLAS expect to declare further savings of approximately €32m in 2021 resulting in a total saving in the region of €55m over the 2 years. Savings were made both from the number of apprentices receiving allowances, reduced expenditure on apprentice travel allowances as well as non – pay costs such as materials.
