Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 June 2023
138. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 728 of 9 May 2023, the details of any engagement he or his Department has had with local authorities around the country in 2022 and to date in 2023 with a view to increasing the number of apprenticeships in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26561/23]
View answerA 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.
My Department’s officials have undertaken a number of actions in order to make progress towards achieving this commitment:
• A number of information sessions on apprenticeship were held late last year with notable/good attendance by representatives of the local authorities.
• The Working Group established to represent Government Departments and agencies and local authorities, continues to support the development of a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan.
• The results of a 2022 survey of public service organisations have now been analysed and a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan, informed by the survey results, is currently in the final stages of being drafted.
2022 saw a total of 373 apprentices registered with public service employers such as the civil service, the Defence Forces and local authorities. This was an increase of 46% on 2021 registrations. The apprentices were on over 20 different programmes in areas as diverse as cybersecurity, accounting technician, recruitment, heavy vehicle mechanics and stonecutting and stonemasonry.
Subject to overall budget allocations within organisations, local authorities are being encouraged to recruit for posts through the use of apprenticeship or to upskill existing staff through these programmes. They are also encouraged to engage with all available supports for developing an apprenticeship programme. The National Apprenticeship Office provide extensive information for prospective employers on how to engage with the apprenticeship system.
