Ms Claire McGee:

With the consortia-led apprenticeships, pay is set by the employer. That was unique and separate from how the craft apprenticeships developed where the pay is agreed across different unions and engagement with that.

The retention of apprenticeships is indicative of a tight labour market and that is the challenge. How we help those companies that have already invested significantly in an apprentice to retain him or her is where the €7,000 or possibly more or an additional stipend could help to ensure the apprentice remains with the company so that he or she can see out training. There will always be challenges but the issue of pay is one where we want to ensure the company is able to afford it and continue on that journey of apprenticeship. That is where this increased incentive would enable companies, particularly smaller ones which are challenged when competing on pay with larger companies.