Catherine Callaghan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)

The programme for Government has many commendable commitments to support apprentices which, as a former apprentice myself, I welcome. Today, I wish to discuss the disparity in off-the-job training allowances that are currently being paid to metal fabrication apprentices. If two metal fabrication apprentices are doing the exact same training but one is working for a company that is registered as an engineering company, in phase 6 - the off-the-job phase - his or her training allowance is up to €235 per week less than his or her counterpart on the exact same course who is working for what is classified as a construction company. This disparity is because engineering company metal fabrication apprentices are being paid according to 2016 rates, whereas construction company apprentices are paid according to 2025 rates. Will the Taoiseach please work with me to rectify this inequitable situation?

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