Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 28 March 2018

Select Committee on Education and Skills

Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 26 - Education and Skills (Revised)

5:00 pm

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to get the figures. Traditionally, apprenticeships were in male-dominated areas. As members are aware, they were mechanics, engineers, electricians, plumbers and so on. What we are doing now is developing an entirely new suite of apprenticeships. The 27 traditional ones are there still and we are seeking to develop over 50 news ones. They are at various stages of development and 11 have gone live. In those, we already see much more significant female representation. The traditional trades are still the dominant element of the overall make-up of apprenticeships and that is what is reflected in the low participation. The work we are doing will make it easier for women to get into traditional apprenticeships but will also broaden the scope of areas where apprenticeships can be obtained. We have the ambition to very significantly change those numbers over the coming years.

A review of the national training fund is being undertaken. It is due to be completed before summer. The issue of the surplus is slightly different. We can only spend in accordance with what is permitted under the fiscal rules. The fact of a surplus in a particular fund does not allow us to spend it. Under public spending rules, it is spending that is restricted. We cannot run down a surplus and not regard it as spending under the spending rules. The spending rules still constrain us. It is being reviewed and the issue of how it is handled in a budgetary context is being examined. Now that we are expanding the NTF and looking for additional contributions from employers, we want to ensure the purposes to which those funds are being put are transparent in the way they are reported and that their impact is shown. That is also part of the work of the review.

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