Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 February 2024
645. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on the employer-led national apprenticeship programme in respect of the local government sector. [9316/24]
View answerThe Public Service Apprenticeship Plan was launched in August 2023. It is a key commitment under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 and is called out as a public service transformation priority in the Public Service Agreement 2024-202, if ratified. The Plan outlines how to grow the number of annual apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to 750 by 2025.
The Plan creates a road-map to achieving that target while offering an alternative recruitment approach for public service organisations seeking solutions to skills gaps and also provides an entry route for job-seekers interested in a career in the public service. It also provides an opportunity to target and widen the recruitment pool for both generalist and specialist roles within the public service.
As of January 2024, there were 393 apprentices working in the civil service and public sector, of which 41 are in Local Authorities. A Public Service Apprenticeship Leadership Group (PSALG) has been established to drive forward greater use of apprenticeship as an upskilling and reskilling option for public service employers.
Interest in public service apprenticeship from the local government sector has been encouraging. A full list of local government employers and the wide range of apprenticeship programmes they are participating in can be found at the following link.
Apprenticeship provides all public service employers with an opportunity to position their workforces to meet current and future skills needs, in order to deliver on their objectives. The diversity of the public service provides a wide basis for involvement with the range of existing apprenticeships and those in development.
