Ms Nessa White:

On behalf of Education and Training Boards Ireland, ETBI, and the 16 education and training boards, ETBs, that ETBI represents, I am most pleased to be given the opportunity to make this statement to the committee.

ETBs are statutory authorities which have responsibility for education and training, youth work and a range of other statutory functions.

ETBs manage and operate second level schools, further education colleges, community national schools and a range of adult and further education centres in communities throughout Ireland.

Since the call for apprenticeship proposals by the council in 2015 and subsequently in 2017, ETBs have been actively engaged in expanding the range of apprenticeship offerings within the further education and training sector in collaboration with industry. They have worked closely with SOLAS, the Apprenticeship Council and other stakeholders while continuing to deliver craft apprenticeship training nationally. The commis chef apprenticeship was rolled out in Kerry in the fourth quarter of 2017, with 125 apprentices registered with 104 participating employers. The auctioneering and property services apprenticeship has been rolled out in Dublin and Cork, with 52 apprentices registered with 40 participating employers. The butcher apprenticeship was rolled out recently and registrations are ongoing for the 2018 intake. The original equipment manufacturer engineering apprenticeship was validated recently, following engagement with Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and is preparing for roll-out in Cavan-Monaghan and Limerick-Clare ETBs. The remaining five new industry-led apprenticeships are in development and preparing for submission to Quality and Qualifications Ireland. ETBs have been actively engaged with industry partners since 2016, with 24 new traineeships introduced to date. As Dr. Smyth has mentioned, four traineeships were rolled out in 2016 in the areas of hospitality, engineering and interior systems. An additional six traineeships were introduced in 2017 in the areas of animation, certified accountancy pathway, digital sales and marketing, engineering operations, hairdressing and laboratory assistance. There has been a significant increase in 2018, with 14 new traineeships being rolled out with another ten traineeships are planned.

The uptake of people participating in new apprenticeships and traineeships has been lower than projected. Several factors need to be considered to understand and inform the current challenges. The SOLAS-authorised officers appointed in ETBs need to reflect the expansion of the apprenticeship model and the requirement to engage and support employers. Ways of attracting, incentivising and supporting employers who employ and train apprentices need to be considered further. As previous speakers have mentioned, the ETBI will continue to work with SOLAS, the Apprenticeship Council, the Department of Education and Skills and other stakeholders to enhance the marketing and promotion of apprenticeships and traineeships at national level. The ETBI acknowledges the importance of career guidance to empower young people to make well-informed and sustainable educational choices. As we address some of these challenges, we plan to host a learner-centred further education and training conference to create awareness and understanding of options and career pathways to work-based learning opportunities for learners, parents and career guidance counsellors. I can confirm that following engagement with the Institute of Guidance Counsellors, on 11 December guidance counsellors will have their first opportunity to engage in continuous professional development with a number of stakeholders. This should start to address the challenges in this area. Continued resourcing of the further education and training sector in terms of recruitment and retention of suitably qualified staff and access to state-of-the-art training facilities is critical if ETBs are to continue to support work-based learning in the 21st century.

ETBs have been working collaboratively with industry partners, SOLAS, Quality and Qualifications Ireland and other providers and will continue to do so. We are playing a leading role in the provision of cost-effective, off-the-job training to apprentices and trainees across a wide range of career areas in communities where apprentices and trainees reside. I thank the committee for its time.