Mr. Andrew Brownlee:

Alongside the review of progress since 2016 and planning post 2020, a priority area for progress over the next 15 months in apprenticeship expansion is to secure a much broader base of employers using apprenticeships as a pipeline of talent. The Apprenticeship Council, and SOLAS in its statutory role overseeing apprenticeship, welcome the support of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Education and Skills in driving this employer goal, including the aim to have at least 1,500 new apprenticeship employers in 2019. To reiterate a core message in the SOLAS submission to the committee in 2018, employer buy-in to new apprenticeships is a key success factor and dependency, and this challenge remains.

The committee’s recommendations in its September 2019 report are being incorporated into the review of the 2016-20 period and preparation for the future post 2020. Any further commentary and ideas are most welcome and my apologies for the length of my statement.