Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 May 2022
315. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is satisfied with the classroom spaces currently available to deal with the backlog of apprenticeships; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that it currently could take over six years for electrical apprentices to be fully certified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18754/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraCraft apprenticeships account for 25 of the existing 65 apprenticeship programmes. 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. The other apprenticeships have not been delayed but may have had disruption to recruitment in, for instance, hospitality.
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.
As of end April 2022, 8,169 craft apprentices were waiting for access to phase 2, 4, or 6 off-the-job training. The waiting list is tackled in order of those apprentices who have been waiting longest. More than 8,400 apprentices, or over 70% of those who were delayed in their training by Covid-19, have now progressed in their off-the-job training. This includes over 700 final year apprentices who were fast-tracked to complete their qualification.
SOLAS and the HEA are actively working with the education and training providers to identify additional solutions that will address the waiting lists for off-the-job elements of craft apprenticeship to ensure that apprentices are enabled to complete their training as quickly as possible without compromising the quality, standards, and safety of those apprentices.
