Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2021
694. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total allocated in targeted spending in each year to address the backlog in apprentices accessing off-the-job training in 2018, listing any unspent funding in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52883/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for apprenticeship grew from €122m in 2018 to over €198m in 2021. The 2021 allocation includes €12m funding to the HEA to support increased provision targeted to addressing waiting lists for access to off-the-job training for a number of craft apprenticeships. 2021 also saw the allocation of €20m in capital funding across the further and higher education sector in 2021 to deliver additional workshop space and equipment to address the backlogs.
Ongoing COVID-19 restrictions throughout 2020 and in the first half of 2021 meant that the full budgeted cohort of apprentices could not be facilitated as expected. The annual breakdown information requested by the Deputy is being compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
