Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2017
446. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills the apprenticeship programmes on which the State pays a training allowance; the number of apprentices that receive this payment; and the amount it costs the State per annum. [26756/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra447. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if the cost per apprentice per annum is due to fall as a result of the State no longer paying a training allowance to apprentices in programmes after 2016; and if so, the amount of the revised estimated cost per apprentice per annum. [26757/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 446 and 447 together.
The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the apprenticeship programmes that receive a training allowance is set out in the following table. The payment of allowances will continue to be paid to apprentices who undertake one of the existing craft trades. A list of those trades is set out below. There are no plans to remove this allowance but no allowances are being paid for any of the new apprenticeships in operation or being developed.
The amount of the training allowance is determined by a number of variables including which of the 5 families of trades the employer is designated to (construction, motor, electrical, engineering or print), which of the 3 off-the-job training phases the apprentice is undertaking and how long the apprentice has been registered. SOLAS estimates that the cost of training allowances in 2016 to be €25.9m and is based on 5,849 apprentices undertaking their off-the job training phases in that year. As apprentice registrations continue to increase for the existing craft apprenticeships, additional funds will be required to fund training allowances over the coming years.
It is estimated that the cost of training an apprentice in one of the existing craft apprenticeships is approximately €6,700 per annum while the estimated cost of training an apprentice in one of the new apprenticeships is approximately €6,300 per annum. This figure may be subject to further refinement as greater numbers of new apprenticeships come into operation.
Based on the targets set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016-2020, it is estimated that the cost of apprenticeship provision in 2020 will rise over the coming years to approximately €200m.
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Craft Apprenticeships Agricultural Mechanics Aircraft Mechanics Brick & Stonelaying Carpentry & Joinery Construction Plant Fitting Electrical Electrical Instrumentation Electronic Security Systems Farriery Floor & Wall Tiling Heavy Vehicle Mechanics Industrial Insulation Instrumentation Mechanical Automation & Maintenance Fitting Metal Fabrication Motor Mechanics Painting & Decorating Pipefitting Plastering Plumbing Print Media Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Stonecutting & Stonemasonry Sheet Metalworking Toolmaking Vehicle Body Repairs Wood Manufacturing & Finishing |
