The Department is working with colleagues both in SOLAS, the HEA and other Government Departments to deliver an appropriate response to existing projections of skills needs in the construction sector. We are currently finalising a report with Solas and I expect to publish this shortly, alongside a plan on how we plan to address the need.
Education and training relevant to the skills needed in the retrofitting and construction sector is delivered across the full remit of the tertiary sector system and through mainstream education and training as well as through specific programmes such as Springboard, the Human Capital Initiative and Skillnet Ireland.
Among the 65 apprenticeships currently available, 25 are craft-related. More specifically, they include housing and retrofitting related programmes. Curricula in existing apprenticeships are updated on an ongoing basis to keep pace with changes in industry practices and regulations.
General provision in areas such as green skills and sustainability, which includes retrofit and Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB), is ongoing across the FET sector, with some 50+ programmes already running across the sector. NZEB skills training comprising one to four days of training is largely targeted to existing construction professionals. Ongoing innovation in delivery includes a move to a blended model of training in addition to the development of a pilot VR programme which is expected to be operational by year end.
The Green Skills for FET Roadmap 2021-2030 was launched on the 23rd March. It incorporates the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and the Green Skills Action Programme which begun in 2021. The National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 committed €29M to NZEB & Retrofit upskilling and reskilling programmes and €10M to Green Skills Modules. Under the Plan, 4,550 retrofit and NZEB standard places and 60,000 green skills places are to be provided by the end of 2022.
Current level of retrofit and construction skills needs are being met through existing provisions. This provision can be scaled up in line with any growth in demands.
All of the 65 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship.
For the 25 craft apprenticeships, the minimum rates of pay are agreed by the partners within the relevant sector, or are set out in Sectoral Employment Orders (Construction Sector and Mechanical Engineering Building Services Contracting Sector).
These minimum rates vary between occupations and sectors but in all cases craft apprenticeship rates are expressed as a proportion of the qualified rate, increasing yearly from 33% of the qualified rate in year one to 90% in year four.
Payment is also based on attainment of relevant skill, knowledge and competence achieved after successfully completing each phase of training. Training allowances for apprentices are calculated with reference to gross-wage norms payable in industry for the different trade sectors.
