Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It would not be appropriate for my Department to compile a report, as is requested in the amendment, because policy in respect of apprenticeships does not come within my Department's remit. As the Deputy knows, the overall policy responsibility rests with my colleague, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and his Department. This year, the National Apprenticeship Office was established jointly by SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority. It is the lead agency responsible for apprenticeships on behalf of the Government.

In general, a person who is participating in an apprenticeship is not eligible to receive a jobseekers' payment. I am advised that apprentices are primarily considered as employees and that apprenticeships are undertaken under contracts of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer, with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship. Apprentices earn while they learn and they have employment contracts. They are paid for the duration of their apprenticeships and they can access other social welfare supports. An apprenticeship is not an obstacle to, for example, claiming one-parent family payment, provided that the other conditionalities of the scheme are met. In the case of craft apprenticeships, periods of off-the-job training are funded from the National Training Fund. Payments are made by the education and training boards during such periods. In some instances, the education and training boards will also contribute to travel and accommodation costs.

Deputy Kerrane specifically referred to the guardian's payment. I will certainly look at that but I cannot accept the amendment.

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