Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh for her question. I assure the Deputy and apprentices that apprentices are not being abandoned and that it is a matter that we are acutely aware of. Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 61 existing available apprenticeship programmes. Off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in training centres or institutes of technology and technological universities. These were the programmes most impacted by the shutdown of on-site learning activity in 2020 and 2021. Given the practical nature of apprenticeships, training centres and workshops were closed for the nine out of the last 12 months. Figures from the end of May indicate that more than 10,000 apprentices were waiting for access to phases 2, 4 and 6 of off-the-job training. Of these, 3,500 craft apprentices have been waiting for more than 12 months. Craft apprentices were prioritised for a return to on-site learning on 8 March 2021. Delivery of off-the-job phases is proceeding and will continue over the summer, subject to public health advice, with restricted numbers. This approach will assist institutions and providers in preparing and organising the safe return of larger numbers in the autumn. The Government has committed to a significant increase in on-site attendance in the tertiary education sector in the next academic year following consultations with the sectoral stakeholders.

Following the Government’s approval, we published a safe return plan to on-site further and higher education for 2021 and 2022. The plan reflects the essential nature of further and higher education and training, including apprenticeships. It provides for comprehensive on-site activity for the next academic year with almost full-scale activities on site. To support the plan, the sector has developed a pack of actions and commitments to ensure a return is safe, with the specific reference made to the backlogs. Under this pack, institutions and providers have committed to addressing backlogs and deferring learning outcomes. Similarly, stakeholder bodies have committed to engaging with institutes and providers to achieve significant increases to on-site teaching and learning and assessment.

See this speech in context