Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy should bear in mind that apprentices also receive travel and subsistence payments to meet the costs associated with their apprenticeships during the institute of technology phases. They are covered if they have extenuating costs associated with this. On the basis that they are receiving between €300 and €600 a week in wages, as opposed to €31 a week for a typical student, they are being treated favourably, as they should be because they are a very important part of the skills development process.

I do not think they are being seriously disincentivised by this measure.