Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

One of the things we have done through the negotiations is set out a stepped pay scale for apprentices. In year one, apprentices are paid one third of the craft rate, but when they get into year two, they are paid half of it. They are paid 75% of it in year three and 90% in year four. This is to recognise the training, development and additional skills they gain each year.

Although apprentices are the responsibility of the Department of further and higher education, I have many discussions about them. The Department of Social Protection, where I am a Minister of State, has a division that organises construction expos annually. These are targeted at people on the live register and early school-leavers to encourage them to take up apprenticeships. The expos are really successful. We had one in Tallaght last year and the year before. It was highly successful and there was a great buzz around it, in addition to great energy. Many transition year classes attend to see it in action. It is great to see engagement at this level to encourage people to become apprentices. SOLAS does a huge amount in this area and I will certainly pass the Deputy’s feedback on to it. I agree that we absolutely need a sustainable apprenticeships model.

Only recently, I suggested to officials in the Department of Social Protection that they carry out a study of people who go through the expo, become apprentices and later drop out, to determine their reasons for doing so. Anecdotally, I have heard that the cost of tools, for example, might be prohibitive, depending on the employer. Therefore, I have asked the Department to carry out a review of the feedback from those who drop out of apprenticeships. If people enter careers that are just not for them, there is nothing we can do about it, but if there are things the Government can do to support people to stay in apprenticeships longer, it absolutely will do them.