I propose to take Questions Nos. 1228, 1230 and 1232 together.
Significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025. The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a manner which presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike.
The Action Plan sets a target of 10,000 annual apprentice registrations by 2025. In 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations- up from 6,177 for 2019, the last pre-COVID full year, and the highest annual registrations since the 2006 figure of 8,306.
In 2021, 6,955 registrations were in craft apprenticeships, and largely in the construction sector, which will be vital for realising the ambition set out in Housing for All. There were 1,652 registrations on the newer, post-2016 programmes. At the end of 2021, the overall apprentice population was 24,212.
Given the practical nature of off-the-job training for craft apprentices, the COVID-related shutdown of on-site learning activity over the last two years had a significant impact on the ability of apprentices to access off-the-job training. Other apprenticeships have not been delayed in this way but may have had disruption to recruitment in, for instance, hospitality.
For the electrical apprenticeship in particular, while SOLAS endeavours to process apprentices in as timely a manner as possible, the overall duration of this apprenticeship is a minimum of four years for all phases to be successfully completed.
The waiting list is tackled in order of those apprentices who have been waiting longest.
A detailed and comprehensive emergency plan to tackle the apprentice waiting lists has been underway across further and higher education since August 2021 when some training facilities started to reopen. At that point 11,859 apprentices were delayed in their training.
Capital funding of €20m was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade craft apprenticeship facilities across further and higher education institutions. Classes that were running at half capacity under COVID 19 measures are now back at their full intake of 14-16 apprentices since last September.
Additional funding of €17m was provided under Budget 2022 to further facilitate the SOLAS and HEA’s response to the backlogs. €6m is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved.
Changed delivery structures for Phase 2 off-the-job training, facilitating a third intake of apprentices per annum have been introduced. In December, an opt-in rapid employer assessment at Phase 7 (on-the-job) was completed for apprentices who had finished Phase 6 and spent more than four years in their apprenticeship
More than 8,400 apprentices, or over 70% of those who were delayed in their training by COVID, have now progressed in their off-the-job phases. This includes over 700 final year apprentices who have been fast-tracked to complete their qualification. There has been an increase of over 50% in the number of training places available, via additional workshops and 100+ additional staff.
As of end March 2022, 7,875 craft apprentices were waiting for access to phase 2, 4, or 6 off-the-job training.
My Department, SOLAS, and other apprenticeship partners are continuing to work actively on further measures to ensure that waiting times are resolved as speedily as possible, enabling apprentices to progress through their apprenticeship as quickly as is feasible.
