I can advise the Deputy that there are currently two Department of Justice staff participating on the SOLAS Accounting Technician course, which commenced in September 2020, and is run in conjunction with Accounting Technicians Ireland. These staff are based in the Insolvency Service of Ireland (ISI).
Throughout this two-year work-based educational training programme, apprentices work with their employer four days per week, and study on one day each week with an approved college during the academic year. Apprentices graduate with an industry-recognised Level 6 QQI Advanced Certificate in Accounting.
The Legal Aid Board has two full-time Family Mediator Traineeship Programmes. Programme 1 is underway with three trainees currently completing a certified mediation training course, presented by the Institute of Public Administration. Programme 2 will commence in July 2022 and will include trainees from Programme 1 and an additional three trainees.
In addition, the Board has one trainee completing PPC2 on its current Trainee Solicitor Programme. A competition will take place later this year for a new Trainee Solicitor Programme.