Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I know the Deputy has been in contact with me about this. There are huge opportunities for Athlone Institute of Technology and Limerick Institute of Technology - the university of the midlands, if we can call it that. There is already a footprint in Laois and I am very eager that we do more, particularly around training for Bord na Móna. I had some engagement last week on that at the Mount Lucas further education centre. The consortium is very much on track. It submitted the application in November. We appointed the international advisory panel in December. It concluded all its meetings with stakeholders on 10 February and will finalise its report. It will send it to the Higher Education Authority, which submits it along with the views of Quality and Qualifications Ireland to me, probably around the end of March. Under the law, I have 60 days to make a decision and inform the consortium of same. I hope the application will be successful, although I cannot jump the gun. I know the consortium is very eager to get it up and running as close to 1 September as possible. This is a very ambitious timeframe but let us see how close we can get to that. It is very much on track.

In respect of apprenticeship targets, being honest, it is a very fluid situation because of Covid. We saw a very significant drop-off earlier in the year. We brought in a financial incentive where an employer got €3,000 for any apprentice it hired. As a result, we have seen a significant spike in apprenticeships in the past year. I believe the figures will be on track this year. As we go through the year, there is potential to see increases in apprenticeships. I am very happy to send the committee a note with the latest figures.