Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
1470. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans that are in place to address the backlog in apprentice training block releases; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41106/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMore than 8,400 apprentices, over 70% of those delayed by Covid-19, have now progressed with their training. This includes over 700 final year apprentices who were fast-tracked to complete their qualification. The numbers of apprentices waiting for off the job training will reduce once again when scheduling for phases 2, 4 and 6 commence this month.
The very welcome sustained growth in apprenticeship registrations has compounded Covid-related pressures on access by craft apprentices to 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.
In particular, further major investment in workshops and staff is planned for this year. On 8th July, I announced the roll-out of €17.2 million in capital funding to respond to the growing demand for apprenticeships. This builds on the €20 million Apprenticeship Capital Fund investment in 2021 across both the further and higher education sectors.
The funding includes: The development of two large training hubs dedicated to electrical training for the next three years; Expansion of electrical, plumbing and carpentry programmes across further and higher education; The construction of electrical workshops at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and the development of a training facility in Donegal; A call for additional phase 2 capacity in craft programmes that include carpentry, plumbing and refrigeration Expansion of electrical apprenticeships in ATU Donegal and MTU Kerry.
Officials in my Department are in continuous engagement with SOLAS, the HEA and other partners on the matter of the backlog and it is expected that the majority of craft apprentices waiting for off-the-job training for phases 4 and 6 will be cleared later this year. The majority of phase 2 waiting lists is expected to be on target to be cleared by the end of 2022.
