Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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1348. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what action his Department is taking to attract people into agricultural and heavy vehicle mechanics apprenticeships, in view that there is a growing shortage of qualified mechanics in the farm machinery industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27578/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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A key strength of the apprenticeship model is that it is an employer demand-led approach to meeting workforce and skill requirements in our economy. As such, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by employers in any sector.

General expansion of apprenticeship as a route to career development is a key priority for Government. The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make them more accessible to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations by 2025.

We are making significant progress in realising the ambition of the Plan. A key objective is to make apprenticeship more attractive to employers and learners, to ensure their continued engagement and to attract those who have not previously engaged with the system. Progress to date includes:

• The establishment of the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and the National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA), delivering new governance and operational structures for the apprenticeship system.
• The establishment of the Access and Inclusion subcommittee of the NAA, to help make apprenticeship more reflective of the national population;
• Securing resources for access measures, including a bursary programme for under-represented groups;
• The introduction of the apprenticeship employer grant of €2,000 and a gender bursary grant of €2,666;
• The allocation of €17.2m in additional capital investment for SOLAS and the HEA, building on the €20 million Apprenticeship Capital Fund investment in 2021;
• The inclusion of apprenticeship options on the CAO website from November 2021.
• The National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) Freephone advice helpline was officially launched on 19 January 2023