Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 September 2022
428. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures that his Department is taking to address the backlog in craft apprenticeships, such as electrical, plumbing, carpentry, joinery bricklaying and stonelaying across SOLAS and the higher education sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45032/22]
View answer429. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery and bricklaying, stonelaying apprentices, respectively, waiting to progress their off-the-job training in phase 2, phase 4 and phase 6, respectively, across SOLAS and the higher education sector in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45033/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 428 and 429 together.
Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector.
The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners, to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025.
Meeting these targets requires a responsive apprenticeship system that provides a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with, and that delivers high standards and sought after qualifications.
We have made important progress to date. Last year saw a record 8,607 registrations. This is an increase of nearly 40% compared to 2019, the last “normal” year. This is a strong foundation on which to build as we advance delivery of the Action Plan , in order to embed apprenticeship as a preferred route to skills development.
In tandem with the impacts of Covid-19 public health measures, this growth is one of the factors impacting capacity in the training system. As a result, the number of craft apprentices waiting to progress their off-the-job training in phase 2, phase 4, and phase 6, attached in tabular form are the figures for the end of July which are the most recent available.
At the end of July there were 7464 apprentices waiting for off the job training. This month will see over 2,000 of these apprentices take up places in the coming academic term.
The number of apprentices waiting is steadily reducing from almost 12,000 in August 2021. Key is this is the continued development of apprenticeship and upskilling educational and or retraining facilities, including:
- Capital funding of €20 million was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade facilities.
- Further funding of €17 million has been provided to SOLAS and the HEA to address Covid-related backlogs, €6 million of which is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved.
- To ensure that there is capacity to meet the training needs of rapidly increasing numbers of apprentices, expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022, with further major investment in workshops and staff is planned for this year.
Specifically, the funding includes:
- The development of two large training hubs dedicated to electrical training for the next three years;
- Expansion of electrical, plumbing, and carpentry programmes across further and higher education;
- The construction of electrical workshops at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and the development of a training facility in Donegal;
- A call for additional phase 2 capacity in craft programmes that include carpentry, plumbing and refrigeration Expansion of electrical apprenticeships in ATU Donegal and MTU Kerry.
I am confident that these measures will contribute to the further development of the apprenticeship system, so that it continues to make a valued contribution to our skills response.
