John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I will give some statistics. Women are strongly represented in the financial sector, in which 45% of the participants are female. The corresponding figures are 60% in accounting and technical services and 45% in auctioneering and property services. One incentive we put in place was the promotion of a bursary. I am unsure whether the Deputy is aware of it, but it incentivised employers to employ women. SOLAS offers a bursary – I gather it is for a sum of €2,666 – to eligible employers to encourage them to employ female apprenticeships in any of the craft apprenticeships. It applies at the relevant education and training board rate of €95 per week. I have asked those responsible to consider increasing the bursary and believe we will do so. As set out in the action plan for apprenticeships and traineeships in Ireland, SOLAS has completed a review of the pathways to participation in apprenticeships. The purpose of the review was to ensure the national apprenticeship system would be more reflective of the range and diversity among the population, but it will take some time. Last year and the year before we had fewer women involved, but we have doubled the number since we put in place the incentives and initiatives mentioned to attract more women into apprenticeships. I am confident that within the next year the number will double again. We are taking a step forward.

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