Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
438. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the new action his Department taking to entice students to take up apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60679/22]
View answerThe ‘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. The Plan seeks to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum, across a wide range of programmes, by 2025.
Apprenticeship has undergone transformation over the past 6 years. Expansion to date has widened the impact of apprenticeship to areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech. There is a clear need to broaden the awareness of apprenticeship as a work-based route to internationally recognised qualifications and experience for people progressing in their career, school leavers, and career changers. Growing that message is a key feature of planning for apprenticeship in the coming years.
On 04 November 2022 the CAO 2023 application system opened and includes information on apprenticeship options with a link to www.apprenticeship.ie. There have been 3,672 visits from 4th November to 24th November 2022 and a total 41,762 visits to apprenticeship.ie directly from CAO/options page since the links were first established on 5 November 2021. As part of this landmark change, a freephone helpline has been introduced for learners, parents and guidance counsellors to provide information on apprenticeship, including how to find an employer. The helpline supplements the existing guidance counsellor service at post-primary and further education and training levels.
Both campaigns promote a number of key initiatives under the Generation Apprenticeship banner, targeting the employer audience regarding the Gender Bursary and Employer Grant, as well as targeting students, parents, and guidance counsellors regarding opportunities in apprenticeship. There is also ongoing engagement with employers through fora such as regular meetings with consortia representatives and the National Apprenticeship Alliance, which highlight opportunities for showcasing apprenticeship programmes and openings.
Data collected as part of the apprenticeship management system and the baseline study on outcomes for apprentices will be used to develop an evidence base which demonstrates the value of apprenticeship to learners who are choosing a qualification or career pathway.
The National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) will drive central branding and promotional activities targeted to heighten public awareness of the range of apprenticeship offerings. Visibility of programmes will be supported through the national Generation Apprenticeship campaign, to drive awareness of apprenticeship opportunities across a broad audience of stakeholders including radio, digital, and billboard advertising, and continued engagement with regional vocational skills showcases. The potential for co-location of the Ireland Skills Live event with other career and education showcases will also be assessed, demonstrating the value and range of practical and vocational skills, including those gained through apprenticeship, to school leavers in the midst of choosing their future learning pathway.
Working in co-operation with SOLAS under the #FutureFET vision, the NAO will ensure that school leavers will have access to the same level of information about apprenticeship options as those in further and higher education. The development of more vocational options and pathways, and apprenticeship taster courses, will be explored as part of Transition Year and Senior Cycle reform with the NCCA. The quality of information relayed to school leavers through guidance counsellors will also be enhanced through a dedicated information campaign.
