Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
120. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to comment on the take-up of apprenticeship schemes in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45080/23]
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. Expansion to date has widened the impact of apprenticeship to areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics, and fintech. The ambition of the Plan is to reach 10,000 annual registrations by 2025. It will also support skills development in key areas, especially in construction skills, and assist with achieving delivery of Government commitments on Housing for All, and the Climate Action Plan.
2021 figures showed 8,607 registrations – an increase of 40% on figures for 2019 (the last full pre-Covid year). 2022 saw 8,286 registrations and a population of over 26,000. This strong growth in apprentice registrations is continuing into 2023, with over 6,000 registrations by end-September and almost 9,000 employers currently employing a population of over 26,200 apprentices.
The development of new apprenticeship programmes is intended to help deliver on the commitments made under the Programme for Government to support and drive the economy, while addressing the skills requirements identified across society. This is evidenced by the variety of programmes now available, with 73 in total. Of these, 47 have been developed since 2016 and more programmes continue to progress through the national development processes.
Since the launch of this Action Plan, more new programmes have come on stream. In 2021, Equipment services engineer, healthcare assistant and scaffolding came on stream. In 2022, Bar Manager, Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician, Transport Operations & Commercial Driving, and Cybersecurity Practitioner Level 8 were added to the offering. So far in 2023 we have seen launched a Sportsturf Technician Level 6, Farm Technician, Farm Manager, Horticulture, Civil Engineering Level 6, Civil Engineering Level 7 and Advanced Quantity Surveying Level 9.
Apprenticeship programmes are employer-led and the development of new apprenticeships is undertaken in accordance with published criteria and led by apprenticeship consortia comprising of employers, education and training providers and sectoral representatives. Timing and progress on the development of new apprenticeships is therefore generally under the control of the individual apprenticeship consortium and progress through the national qualification quality assurance processes (QQI).
Under the Action Plan, there will be increased online visibility regarding apprenticeship engagement and development processes for employers/sectors who wish to assess the potential for new apprenticeships. Applications for new apprenticeship development are open on an ongoing basis, allowing employers to progress the development of programmes in response to emerging skills needs on an as-needed basis in all sectors of the economy. Such is the dynamic nature of apprenticeship programme development, additional programmes are continually being proposed for assessment by the National Apprenticeship Alliance.
The increased diversity of new apprenticeships, many of which have off-the-job training delivered through online or blended learning, provides a significant opportunity for widening of access to apprenticeship for rural businesses and learners. In addition, Education and Training Boards, Institutes of Technology, and Technological Universities are spread throughout the country and play a very important role in ensuring apprenticeship provision has a strong regional dimension.
