Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 October 2023
135. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of craft apprenticeship places that are planned for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45574/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no restrictions on the number of apprentices that can be registered each year, as the system is demand-led. The current buoyant labour market and the recognition of apprenticeship as a valuable employment and skills development opportunity, is a welcome endorsement of this Government’s support of, and ambitions for, Apprenticeships in the tertiary sector. The apprenticeship system is now responding to a marked increase in demand over the past 4 years.
My Department is working closely with SOLAS and the ETBs to continue to increase training capacity, resulting in 13,000 craft places delivered in 2022. It is intended to deliver some 15,300 places in total this year. With additional funding of €67 million now secured through Budget 2024, I expect training capacity to increase to 16,000 places in 2024 – an increase approaching 25%.
SOLAS, the National Apprenticeship Office and the ETBs, together with staff representatives, are continuing to work intensively with my Department to deliver the required additional apprenticeship training capacity to secure the reductions in waiting time for off-the-job training, in particular for phase 2 training.
This funding will support the delivery of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship’s ambition of 10,000 annual registrations by 2025. It will also support skills development in key areas, especially in construction skills, and assist with achieving delivery of Government commitments on Housing for All, and the Climate Action Plan.
