Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the opportunity to discuss the important issue of apprenticeships.

I was very welcoming of the launch of the new five-year apprenticeship action plan. The action plan aims to deliver 10,000 apprentice programme registrations per year by 2025. Everyone learns in different ways. The plan to provide a roadmap to a single apprenticeship system and new supports for both employees and apprentices are great, but we are currently facing serious difficulties in respect of apprenticeships because of the pandemic and the delays in the programmes.

I have been contacted by several constituents in Carlow who have highlighted the delays that apprentices are currently facing. Basically, what should have been a four-year apprenticeship is looking like it will be six or seven years. These are hard-working young people who will be here to pay taxes for many years to come, hopefully. However, these delays are going to hinder their opportunities to travel and see the world. They have been held back significantly as a result of the Covid pandemic.

This age group have suffered so much. Many of them worked right the way through the pandemic in essential services. Apprenticeship courses did not provide the same remote learning options as many other courses. One constituent of mine started their apprenticeship in October 2019 and should be qualified and finished in 2023. Their first college phase should have started in September 2020, but it has been postponed until October 2022, two years later than expected.

Taking an apprentice electrician as an example, it normally takes four years to complete the programme. Phase 1 lasts three months; phase 2, 22 weeks; phase 3, a minimum of six months; phase 4, ten to 11 weeks; phase 5, six months; phase 6, ten to 11 weeks; and phase 7, a minimum of three months. Phases 2, 4 and 6 are college-based, and for those apprentices who were due to complete these phases in the past 14 months, there has been a major issue. It must be addressed. I am most concerned that this delay will have a knock-on effect on additional college places. One of my greatest concerns is whether there will be sufficient college places available.

What is the plan to address this issue and what is the solution? We will be crying out for fully-qualified tradespeople as older qualified people retire, and they will not be finished their apprenticeships. That is without mentioning the domino effect it will have. We know that we will badly need tradespeople in the years ahead due to the housing supply issue. This is the sector that is most reliant on apprentices in the workforce.

Having equal access to an apprenticeship irrespective of background, gender or age should be an option for all. However, if a person signs up for an apprenticeship, he or she should be able to complete the required phases of learning properly.

I wish to stress how hard everyone has worked during this pandemic. People have made sacrifices. I know that the Minister understands that, given that he has responsibility for third level education. We have seen students trying to work from home and having to tackle problems with broadband and other issues. The pandemic has had a major effect on them. In respect of apprenticeships, some apprentices will face a two-year delay in completing their courses. That is unacceptable.

Apprenticeship programmes should be an option within the national education and training system, transforming them from a well established route to a career in niche areas such as the crafts sector, to a well established route to a broad range of careers that are attractive to both employers and learners. If we do not address this backlog, we will have difficulty meeting that goal. I look forward to hearing about the work the Minister has done in this area to address the issue, particularly in respect of my own area of Carlow.

I have received several phone calls about this issue. It is a concern and a worry. Some of the apprentices who have approached me about the issue are paying bills and are finding it very hard. They had a plan that they would qualify by a certain date and now that has been extended. I want to know what work has been done on this issue. I look forward to hearing the Minister's response.

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