Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2022
573. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices waiting to access off-the-job training; and the number who have been issued with a start date but are yet to begin their training; the number waiting for each further education and training college and-or higher education institute; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24425/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCraft apprenticeship in Ireland is demand-led, meaning that no limits are applied to the numbers that can register on any programme. Craft apprentice registrations have experienced a marked increase in interest over the past 4 years. In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered. There were 6,955 registrations on the 25 craft programmes alone. These are the highest registration figures since 2007. As of Monday, 16 May 2022, there have been 2,286 registrations (1,997 craft and 289 on post 2016/consortia led apprenticeships).
With the increase in registrations, currently there are 8,208 apprentices waiting to access off the job training of which 7,228 are waiting for phase 2 and 980 are waiting for phase 4 and 6. The phase 2, 4 and 6 apprentice figures will continue to change as apprentices move through their on and off-the-job phases.
As of 16 May 2022, 1,261 apprentices are scheduled to commence their phase 2 off the job training in the coming weeks. It is anticipated circa 2,500 apprentices will be scheduled to phase 4 and 6 training for the September 2022/2023 term.
Scheduling for Term September 2022 will commence in July 2022. Since last September 2021 classes have been scheduled at full capacity (14-16 per class) whereas prior to this they had been scheduled based on 7-8 per class to comply with public health advice. Over 70% of apprentices who were delayed by Covid-19 have now progressed in their off-the-job training.
To ensure that the remainder of the Covid-19 backlog is cleared and the system has the capacity to meet the training needs of rapidly increasing numbers of apprentices, expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022. Further major investment in workshops and staff is planned for this year.
