Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
43. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Education and Skills the progress in relation to the action plan to expand apprenticeships and traineeships here; the number of apprenticeships that have been started to date under the plan; the gender distribution in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2762/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016-2020 sets out a series of actions and annual targets to grow apprenticeship provision. The Plan targets 31,000 learner registrations on apprenticeship programmes over its lifetime. This represents a more than doubling of activity over the plan period.
This growth will be achieved through expanding employer engagement with existing craft apprenticeships and by expanding the apprenticeship model into new areas. Following two calls for proposals issued by the Apprenticeship Council, nineteen new consortia led apprenticeship programmes have been developed. These new programmes span a variety of sectors ranging from financial services and ICT to hospitality. Further new apprenticeships are due to get underway in 2019 in various sectors including construction, engineering and agriculture.
This expansion of the apprenticeship system has led to a welcome increase in female participation. Year on year we are seeing greater numbers of women choosing an apprenticeship for their career path. Many of our new apprenticeships are in occupations that have greater gender balance in the workplace such as hospitality and accountancy. At the end of 2018 there were 341 female apprentices registered, more than double the 2017 figure of 151.
As well as developments in new apprenticeships, as the employment and economic situation continues to improve, we have seen strong growth in registrations across the craft trades nationally during 2018 with 5,058 new registrations by year end, ahead of target and an increase 12% on 2017.
