Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes is the short answer and I recently met the public sector trade unions, and indeed other trade unions representing apprentices to consider how best to take this forward. These rates were traditionally set by industry so, not to pass the buck but there is not a direct role from my Department in terms of setting the rates.

However, there are significant considerations around, for example, the minimum wage and how it relates to our apprentices. That is an issue I am looking at. We will work with our colleagues in the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, the unions and industry representatives to see if we can come up with a way forward. We want more people to become apprentices. The Deputy is right in that there is a strong focus on crafts, but there are many other skills to develop and diverse apprenticeships we need people to take up. I would like to see a greater consistency in the funding and financial support available.

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