Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 January 2021
197. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of male and female apprentices, respectively in County Cork; the measures being examined to further increase the number of female participants; when the Action Plan on Apprenticeships will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4928/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the Programme for Government, a new Action Plan for Apprenticeship is in development to cover the period 2021-2025 with a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. The plan will also set out how the apprentice population will more closely reflect the general population and further address the issue of barriers to participation in apprenticeship by under-represented groups by offering targeted supports.
At the end of December 2020, there was a total of 2,384 apprentices registered with Cork based employers, of these 2,272 were male and 112 female.
In January 2021, there were a total of 1,032 women apprentices, up from 60 in 2016. This increase is mainly due to the expansion of apprenticeship into new areas. Many of these new programmes are in occupations that have greater gender balance in the workplace such as financial services where 51% of participants are female across the four apprenticeships in the sector. Women also feature more strongly in the new apprenticeships in the hospitality, ICT and logistics sectors. However, it is also important to note that female representation in craft apprenticeship has doubled in the last two years and participation in industry areas such as Polymer Processing Technology, Manufacturing and Engineering is also increasing.
SOLAS conducted a review on Pathways to Participation in Apprenticeship which was published in 2018. It highlighted 5 areas for action to overcome barriers to apprenticeship and facilitate the inclusion of diverse groups including women and implementing the actions as outlined in the report is ongoing. A review of the current position of the Pathways to Participation in Apprenticeship findings and recommendations together with findings from stakeholder’s submissions is being used to inform the new Action Plan which will be finalised in the coming weeks.
Current initiatives underway include:
- A specific focus on female participation as part of the Generation Apprenticeship national promotional campaign. From Monday 25 January, SOLAS are running a media campaign over 3 weeks promoting the apprenticeship route and celebrating diversity and the 1000th female apprentice
- SOLAS offers a bursary of €2,666.44 to eligible employers, to encourage them to employ female apprentices in one of the craft apprenticeships.
- A Software Developer Associate Apprenticeship programme for women only commenced in November 2019. It is a 2 year course and is offered at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. The off the job training is being delivered by Liberties College who are under the remit City of Dublin Education and Training Board.
- The recently published review of career guidance encourages the consideration of apprenticeship options by all second level students regardless of gender.
- A total of 300 learners availed of dedicated pre-apprenticeship training in 2019, growing to 580 places in 2020.
- Almost 1,000 employers have registered with www.apprenticejobs.ie which is designed to increase visibility of opportunities for all potential apprentices.
- Broader approaches to widening access to apprenticeships also include developing links between Youthreach and Community Training Centre (CTC) provision.
- The roll out of the 2020 Generation Apprenticeship competition at second level reached 156 second level schools, Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres.
- A new user-friendly and interactive website to provide information on, and increase awareness of, apprenticeship was launched in October 2020 (www.apprenticeship.ie)
