Dáil debates

Tuesday, 28 September 2021

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

2:45 pm

Photo of Micheál MartinMicheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

First of all, I thank the Deputy for raising the question. It is a very pertinent question that goes to heart of the challenges that face us in terms of Housing for All and having the requisite skill sets, but also across the broader economy. There is a waiting list for craft apprentice off-the-job training in electrical, plumbing, carpentry and joinery. The Deputy is correct on that. Covid and the measures that happened as a result in terms of lockdowns have been a factor in backlogs, but there has also been a doubling of the apprentice population over the past four years.

In addition to that, there was the closure of face-to-face training in 2020 and 2021 and reduced capacity due to Covid-19 distancing requirements. Programmes were running at a capacity of 40% to 50% to allow for appropriate distancing. SOLAS, as recently as last Thursday, announced the actions being taken to address this so apprentices whose training has been affected by the impact of Covid will be offered places for phases 2, 4 and 6 of their programmes, which consist of off-the-job training. More than 4,800 apprentices currently on a waiting list for off-the-job or workshop-based training are now on track to commence their training by the end of 2021. This represents 40% of those currently waiting. One hundred percent will be returned to workshop-based training in 2022. We fully accept the vital importance of getting these apprentices back into their programmes as quickly as possible. Those who are waiting the longest will be prioritised.

Twenty million euro in capital has been allocated to SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority, HEA, to provide up to an additional 4,000 off-the-job training places for craft apprentices to address the current backlogs. From September 2021, course provision returned to full capacity. Places created from the capital investment of €20 million are now beginning to come on stream. This expansion is planned to continue throughout 2022 as new facilities become available for learner use. A restructuring of phase 2 programmes in the three main apprenticeship areas — plumbing; electrical; and carpentry and joinery — will allow for blended learning over the coming period, reducing the time spent on site and providing for an additional intake off premises at phase 2.

The Deputy will know that the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme will continue to operate until the end of this year. We will review that. Employers approved by SOLAS to employ apprentices are eligible for a €3,000 grant for each new apprentice registered. Between March 2020 and August 2021, in excess of €10 million was sanctioned for payment under this initiative, supporting almost 2,000 employers to employ more than 3,500 apprentices. Phase 2 training continued throughout the summer, with 780 apprentices starting their training in July and August. Phase 2 is scheduled on an ongoing basis. Therefore, more classes are being scheduled at present.

At the end of August, there were about 18,733 registered craft apprentices, with 9,743 waiting for a period in respect phases 2, 4 or 6 of their seven-phase apprenticeships.

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