Mr. Tony Donohoe:

I think it is the number of actors. First of all, it was a step change, in that it was a different way of approaching this. I think the model is still right, the model of enterprise-led apprenticeships is the right one, but the number of actors involved includes SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority, the Department of Education and Skills and Qualifications and Quality Ireland. There are four arms of the State, although that is not to criticise the State. There are also multiple companies. It has been relatively straightforward with the IBEC ones because they have been single sector or groups. There is only one prime group for the medtech and engineering sector, or Technology Ireland, or pharmachem. In other sectors, there are multiple groups that are trying to come together. There are a lot of actors there and by definition, that slowed it down.

The apprenticeship plan is a 12-stage process. We are using 40 year old legislation here. Much of the legislation is still fit for purpose in respect of protection of apprenticeship and employing somebody on a contract of apprenticeship. We would not change a word of that, we think it is fine in terms of the rights and responsibilities of both employers and apprentices. In terms of approval of companies and designations of sectors, the legislation is probably out of date and we need to streamline that process. The apprenticeship plan is presented as a circle of 12 steps, but it is actually more like "Snakes and Ladders" in the sense that if one gets to a point, one can go back. If one does not get approval, for example, under Qualifications and Quality Ireland, one has to go back to the drawing board.

I have no issue about the involvement of the quality assurance agencies because if this is to mean anything, it needs to be something of which employers and learners are confident in the quality but the processes are probably still a bit bureaucratic. I think it is getting better, however.

I would like to introduce Ms Siobhán Dean because she launched some apprenticeships that were announced by the Minister last week. She has got through the process a bit quicker than some of the others who were early adopters, so we are probably getting better at that. To summarise, there is a multiplicity of actors and we are using old legislation. It is really difficult to change legislation because that would take quite a while. Ms Dean might give a practical example.