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

We will send the numbers to the Deputy afterwards. At the end of September 2023, 8,757 apprentices were waiting to access off-the-job training, of which 5,345 were waiting longer than six months. At phase 2, there were 7,096 apprentices, of which 5,194 were waiting longer than six months. At phases 4 and 6, there were 1,161 apprentices, of which 51 were waiting longer than six months. I do not accept we have taken the eye off the ball. SOLAS and the NAO are leading on developing a series of options, which will significantly reduce the backlog by the end of 2024. This work has been the output of activities and stakeholder engagements that occurred at an intensive pace on the ground between July and September this year. The options are focused on increasing the capacity of the education and training boards by 3,000 places in phase 2 and delivering apprenticeships supported by other initiatives such as the temporary and emergency delivery of approximately 600 places in phase 2. We will send the Deputy the follow-on on that.

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