SOLAS Training and Education Programmes Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Ceisteanna (382, 383)

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

382. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans for training of apprenticeships for trades, in view of the urgent need for certain skills to build houses in the next number of months and years; his views on recent developments; his plans for apprenticeship training for trades; and the funding he will allocate for training apprenticeships for trades in each of the years from 2017 to 2021, in tabular form. [41488/16]

Maurice Quinlivan

Ceist:

383. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans regarding training for apprenticeships for trades, given the fact all these skills will be urgently required in view of the houses that need to be built in the next number of months and years; his views on any recent developments; his plans with respect to apprenticeships training for trades plans; the level of funding allocated each year from 2017 to 2021 for the area of training apprenticeships for trades, in tabular form; the number of apprentices he envisages will be delivered in each of the years 2017 to 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41489/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.

The forecast apprentice registrations in the 27 craft trades are set out in a table.

CRAFT	Actual Registration 2016	Forecast Registrations 2017	Forecast Registrations 2018	Forecast Registrations 2019	Forecast Registrations 2020
BRICK & STONELAYING	52	65	95	140	180
CARPENTRY & JOINERY	399	570	700	810	1045
FLOOR & WALL TILING	0	0	0	0	0
PAINTING & DECORATING	27	45	65	90	110
PIPEFITTING	33	45	55	65	75
PLASTERING	18	30	60	90	120
PLUMBING	345	460	625	690	750
STONECUTTING	2	14	14	14	14
WOOD MANUFACTURING & FINISHING	71	90	110	125	140
TOTAL FOR CONSTRUCTION	947	1319	1724	2024	2434
					ELECTRICAL
AIRCRAFT MECHANICS	39	40	40	40	40
ELECTRICAL	1343	1280	1360	1390	1415
ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTATION	106	100	110	120	130
ELECTRONIC SECURITY SYSTEMS	28	35	45	55	65
INSTRUMENTATION	10	14	14	14	14
REFRIGERATION & AIR CONDITIONING	79	85	90	90	90
TOTAL FOR ELECTRICAL	1605	1554	1659	1709	1754
M.A.M.F.	163	175	185	200	225
FARRIERY	5	8	8	8	8
INDUSTRIAL INSULATION	10	14	14	14	14
METAL FABRICATION	186	200	210	225	235
SHEET METALWORKING	40	45	50	55	60
TOOLMAKING	66	70	75	75	80
TOTAL FOR ENGINEERING	470	512	542	577	622
AGRICULTURAL MECHANICS	43	50	50	50	50
CONSTRUCTION PLANT FITTING	59	75	80	80	80
HEAVY VEHICLE MECHANICS	136	155	160	160	160
MOTOR MECHANIC	420	420	420	420	420
VEHICLE BODY REPAIRS	58	50	50	55	55
TOTAL FOR MOTOR	716	750	760	765	765
PRINT MEDIA	4	12	12	12	12
OVERALL TOTAL	3,742	4,147	4,697	5,087	5,587

SOLAS has informed me that the forecast for future apprenticeship registrations is strong and the number of apprentices registered by employers in 2016 was almost 20% higher than in 2015. This increase in apprentice registration is primarily being driven by employers in the electrical, engineering and motor sectors with modest growth occurring in construction related apprenticeships.  Budget 2017 saw €80 million made available from the National Training Fund (NTF).  This is €20 million greater than the 2016 allocation to provide for increased apprenticeship activity in 2017. The 2018 and future year allocations will be considered through the budgetary process, taking into account forecast increased participation in existing apprenticeships and traineeships and the costs of development and roll out of new apprenticeship programmes and career traineeships.

SOLAS regularly conducts evaluations on the imbalances in skills supply and demand in the workplace, including the construction sector and provides forecasts of the apprenticeship requirements over a five year period.  SOLAS in partnership with the Higher Education Authority and Education and Training Boards Ireland ensures sufficient training provision and resources are in place to meet the labour market demands for apprentices.  SOLAS has recently produced the 2016 National Skills Bulletin (NSB) where shortage indicators are highlighted across a range of construction-related occupations.  The data and trends provided in the 2016 NSB will feed into the annual service planning process which incorporates the planning of construction related apprenticeships by SOLAS in conjunction with Education and Training Boards and Institutes of Technology.   The forecast for future apprenticeship registrations remains strong and it is predicted that craft based apprentice registrations will continue to grow incrementally up to 2020. SOLAS is working with its partners to ensure adequate capacity exists within the education and training sector to meet this expected increase in apprentice registrations over the next five years.