Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 March 2023
83. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the participation to date by the public service and the multinational sector in traditional apprenticeships and new apprenticeships; and the initiatives planned to promote greater participation. [14944/23]
View answerAt the end of 2022, of the total apprentice population of 26,109, there were approximately 320 apprentices registered with public service employers such as the Civil Service, the Defence Forces, and Local Authorities. These apprentices were registered across over 16 different apprenticeship programmes in areas as diverse as cyber-security, accounting technician, recruitment, heavy vehicle mechanics, and stone-cutting and stone-masonry. When commercial and non-commercial semi-state organisations are included, this number becomes 938 apprentices. A key commitment of the ‘Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025’ is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025. This represents in excess of a seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by public service employers. It is recognised that the diversity of the public service provides a wide basis for involvement with the range of existing apprenticeships and those programmes in development. Apprenticeship provides an opportunity to target and widen the recruitment pool for both generalist and specialist roles within the public service. My Department’s officials have undertaken a number of actions in order to make progress towards achieving this commitment: Several general and sector-focused information sessions on apprenticeship have been held. A Working Group has been established, representing Government Departments and agencies and local authorities, to develop a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan by summer 2023. The Group’s work is based on surveying over 100 organisations in relation to their skills needs. More specifically, there has been extensive bilateral engagement with the LGMA to assist with surveying local authorities in relation to their skills needs. Engagement with the HSE and Department of Health in relation to a commitment in the Action Plan to explore a healthcare assistant apprenticeship programme for the HSE and the options for how this might be piloted. Unfortunately, we cannot estimate the number of multi-nationals registered as employers as they would not register as such when engaging with the Apprenticeship Office.
