Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
119. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline progress in establishing the new national apprenticeship office and the national apprenticeship alliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25281/22]
View answerKey to the delivery of the ambition set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-25 is a new organisational architecture, involving a National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA). The Office will have responsibility for all aspects of the management, oversight, and development of the apprenticeship system and for implementing the Action Plan. Under this plan the NAO will exercise the relevant functions of SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
This represents a significant structural reform in the positioning and delivery of apprenticeship into the future. It will allow for responsive delivery of collaborative learning opportunities supported by industry and the further and higher education and training sector, and provide the essential basis for significant expansion of the system.
The NAO will deliver additional practical supports and information for employers and apprentices seeking to engage with apprenticeship and its first Director has been appointed. The staffing structure of the office and budget for 2022 have been agreed and early achievements include overseeing the introduction the new €2000 employer grant, the gender based bursary and the establishment of the NAA.
The NAA held its first meeting in March 2022. It will take on and build from the previous role of the Apprenticeship Council. This will help ensure for the future that the apprenticeship system is responsive to developments, can evolve, and all the while maintains the quality of apprenticeship training.
The 23 member Alliance is representative of apprenticeship stakeholders and brings together a wealth of knowledge and first-hand, practical experience from the worlds of education providers, learners, industry partners, and trade unions.
Together the NAO and NAA will be instrumental in driving and promoting the apprenticeship agenda and ensuring the ambitions of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship are fully realised.
