Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
61. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will detail progress on apprenticeship commitments, including take up of apprenticeships by sector and county to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36760/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra279. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which the number of apprentices is likely to increase in the current year and subsequently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36993/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 279 together.
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.
In 2021, a record 8,607 new apprentices were registered in the apprenticeship system. This is an increase of nearly 40% compared to 2019, the last “normal” year.
The attached table shows all apprenticeship registrations across the 16 ETBs for 2022, to the end of June. Where fewer than five apprentices were registered, the number is given as "Less than 5" in order to protect individuals' identities.
There have been a total of 3,057 apprentice registrations (2,667 craft registrations and 390 consortia-led registrations) to the end of June.
Significant financial supports have been introduced this year under the Action Plan:
- The annual Employer Grant of €2,000 per apprentice means that, for the first time, employers of all apprentices now have access to financial support, either through direct payment of allowances to apprentices or through the grant. This will help to promote engagement with the non-craft programmes, including the development of new programmes.
- The gender-based bursary of €2,666 is available for those who employ apprentices in the minority gender on any national apprenticeship programme with greater than 80% representation of a single gender. It is an expansion of the ‘female bursary’ available to craft apprenticeship employers prior to 2022 and there are currently 42 programmes which meet the criterion.
Employer feedback during the consultation process of the Action Plan highlighted that non-financial supports were particularly important for SME employers. Recognising this, supports to be in place during 2022 include:
- The National Apprenticeship Office will link potential consortia members, education providers, and supporting consortia members and/or provide supports to build in-company training capacity.
- Sector-specific supports to be delivered through apprenticeship consortia to support SME employers.
- A development plan is to be delivered for a user-centred apprenticeship management system to simplify employer participation within and across apprenticeship.
There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 40 programmes introduced since 2016. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic; Arboriculture, Equipment Systems Engineer, Healthcare Assistant, Principal Engineer – Professional Doctorate, Recruitment Executive, Sales, Scaffolding , Supply Chain Associate. So far this year, bar manager, wind turbine maintenance technician and transport operations & commercial driving apprenticeships have been launched. A further 16 programmes are in development.
This progress shows the continued appetite for apprenticeship as a valued option in our national skills architecture.
