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Apprenticeship Programmes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 6 April 2022

Wednesday, 6 April 2022

Ceisteanna (171)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Ceist:

171. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the set that his Department is taking to address low registration levels in certain construction-related trades; the apprenticeships that are being targeted in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18869/22]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

A key objective of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure that the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025

There are currently 64 apprenticeship programmes on offer ranging from levels 5-10 on the National Framework of Qualifications: 25 craft programmes and 39 consortia programmes introduced since 2016. These range in duration from 2-4 years.

Among the 64 apprenticeships, construction related programmes include electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery, plastering, painting and decorating and the recently launched scaffolding apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are also in development in roofing and cladding (L5) and advanced quantity surveyor (L9).

In recent years, annual intake in construction related apprenticeships has steadily been increasing, from a low of 650 in 2010 rising to 3,499 in 2019. In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered. This was an almost 40% increase on the figures from 2019, the last “normal” pre-pandemic year. 6,955 of these registrations were in craft apprenticeships, and of these, 5,181 were in construction and electrical apprenticeships.

As of February 2022 (the latest full month figures available), there have been 887 craft apprenticeship registrations, with 701 of these in construction related programmes. This is an increase on January 2022 figures where there were 468 craft apprenticeships registrations, of which 379 were in construction-related programmes.

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