Dr. Mary-Liz Trant:

The local and regional element of all of what we are doing is important. We have 16 education and training boards, 14 institutes of technology, as well as more universities, and all of the employers. A big part of the generation apprenticeship competition has been about co-opting everybody in that.

We have that local and regional reach.

Senator Byrne asked about what was happening in the mid-west. We now have these structures in place throughout he country which are very powerful and effective and making a very big contribution. The apprenticeship.ie website which receives approximately 25,000 visitors per month plays a big role in supporting, facilitating and generating apprenticeships. We are working to make it a one-stop shop, with a profile and a link with the jobs market. We are expanding our significant social media presence and have profiles on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. We are examining how to reach men in their mid 20s, school leavers and transition year students, while not forgetting the role played by employers.

Members may be aware that the ESB recently received an award as part of European Vocational Skills Week for its work on apprenticeships and in attracting women into electrical apprenticeships, which traditionally were predominantly filled by men. It has done a significant amount of work in promoting opportunities and now has approximately 16 female apprentices, whereas two or three years ago there were only one or two. It is showing the way in terms of what can be done by an employer.

The Chairman asked how we were promoting traineeships. We are working closely with education and training boards across the country in that regard and have a very exciting pipeline of 51 traineeships on offer. We provide national support in branding, availing of opportunities to organise workshops, engaging with employers and working with the regional skills forums hand in hand with the education and training boards and their connections with employers.

Senator Byrne asked what was in the pipeline. The detailed list is available and includes apprenticeships in sales, retail, ICT, farming, horiticulture and engineering. Four chef apprenticeships will be available by the middle of next year, doubling our current offering. There will be apprenticeships in supply chain logistics, which is of great importance in the context of Brexit. There is a wide range of offerings. Part of what the council is doing is looking at how to ensure our apprenticeship offering is responsive in what we have and what we will need.

Deputy Catherine Martin asked what was being done on the issue of climate change. We are working closely with the Construction Industry Federation and other partners on an ongoing basis to ensure the existing apprenticeship courses have the content required to ensure we are responding to these imperatives and regulations and so on, to identify new areas in which apprenticeships are needed or need to be adapted and to ensure we can do so. The council is piloting an engagement with employers and other bodies to ensure it has its finger on the pulse in that regard.

The Chairman asked about life-long learning and opportunities for employees, including those at risk of losing their jobs. Apprenticeship is increasingly an opportunity for people in employment. Up to half of those in the first intake in insurance and engineering apprenticeships were employees who might have been working for five or ten years, did not have a formal qualification and were being facilitated by their employer to undertake the apprenticeship and potentially take up more senior positions in their company. Obviously, apprenticeship is increasingly a very important route for young people, but it is also for learners of all ages and backgrounds, as evidenced by the surge in new apprenticeships, of which it is to be hoped we will see more as time passes.