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

The Traveller apprenticeship incentive programme is funded under the Dormant Accounts Fund scheme. The programme is aimed at increasing the uptake of and retention of apprenticeships. The programme is structured across three streams: a €3,000 bursary for each 20 Travellers who are employed as new apprentices; a €2,000 incentive payment to each of their employers; and each of the streams 1,2 and 3 have similar funding. The employers who hire a Traveller apprentice are also eligible for the €2,000 employer grant. Details of the programme were presented by the Department of Equality at its conference recently with the Traveller and Roma communities. This was a conference on employment and it was entitled "Overcoming Barriers and Promoting Opportunities".

Calls for expressions of interest for Travellers seeking apprenticeships went live in early April. There were 130 expressions of interest.

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