Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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59. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his strategy to broaden the number of new apprenticeships; the details of the development of the seven new apprenticeship programmes announced for 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6379/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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This question will be taken by Deputy Niamh Smyth on behalf of Deputy Cathal Crowe.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister of State to outline his strategy to broaden the number of new apprenticeships and the details of the development of seven new apprenticeship programmes in 2022.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for the question. The action plan for apprenticeships 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeships more accessible to employers and learners in order to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025. Expanding apprenticeship across all sectors of the economy has widened its impact in areas of skills shortage such as engineering, technology skills, logistics and fintech. Under the plan there will be an increase in the online visibility of apprenticeship engagement and apprenticeship development processes for employers and sectors that wish to assess the potential of new apprenticeship development.

The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship responses in a sector. It is open to any industry that wishes to explore such options to bring forward a proposal. Applications for new apprenticeship development are open on an ongoing basis, allowing all employers to progress the development of programmes in response to emerging skills needs on an as-needed basis.

There are currently 62 apprenticeship programmes on offer, comprising 25 craft programmes and 37 programmes which have been introduced since 2016. Eight new programmes were launched in 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic: arboriculture; equipment systems engineer; healthcare assistant; principal engineer; professional doctorate; recruitment executive; sales; scaffolding; and supply chain associate. A further three programmes are close to launch, namely, wind turbine maintenance, bar manager, transport operations and commercial driving. There are 17 additional programmes being developed across agriculture, construction, engineering, equine, finance, horticulture, hospitality and food, ICT and logistics. A number of other potential apprenticeships are at an exploratory stage, in sectors such as health, beauty, environmental, engineering, ICT and finance.

To meet our targets, we require an apprenticeship system that is flexible and responsive and provides a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices. It must be attractive and easy to engage with and deliver high standards and sought after qualifications, therefore embedding apprenticeship as a preferred route to skills development.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. He has outlined some exciting new and progressive courses. It would be remiss of me not to take the opportunity to mention Cavan Institute, which the Minister, Deputy Harris, visited. Not only does it provide academic subjects, it also endeavours to provide apprenticeships in hairdressing and for commis chefs. It is a victim of its own success and space is now required to help it to continue to provide those programmes.

Ireland has traditionally lagged behind our neighbours in the scope and range of apprenticeships offered here. We know that ETBs, formerly VECs, have always taken a lead role in that delivery. In the programme for Government, there is a number of key commitments to examine new ways of structuring funding and promoting apprenticeships, and it recognised that we need to encourage wider take-up of these programmes, especially for women, people with disabilities and disadvantaged groups. The action plan for apprenticeships launched last year was a welcome commitment to widening and expanding the type of apprenticeships available. The Minister of State touched on some of that in his response. Perhaps he could expand on that further.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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I welcome that apprenticeships are now part of the CAO process. With respect to young people who drop out of apprenticeship programmes, which is quite a lot in some areas, does the Minister of State intend to commission any research or study into why this going on?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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On the last point raised by Deputy Stanton, that is an issue which the Minister, Deputy Harris, and I have raised with the new director of the National Apprenticeship Office. It is something which is very much on its work programme. There is a dropout rate similar to that across all sectors, but it is something we are conscious and aware of.

On the point raised by Deputy Smyth, the apprenticeship action plan has a number of key targets in terms of new registrations and the number of apprentices in training at any point in time. We have put a lot of focus on that. As the Deputy said, in terms of diversity and gender we are also challenging the State, including the Civil Service and public service, to get involved in the apprenticeships space.

She again raised the case of Cavan Institute. The Minister, Deputy Harris, and I are happy to engage on that, as we are happy to engage with any institution or college of further education. Our Department will advertise for expressions of interest for our capital development programme in the coming days. We will accept applications and business cases from colleges and further education institutes for capital development.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State. What measures are in place for those waiting to move forward in their training to tackle the backlog in apprenticeships across SOLAS and the higher education sector, in particular craft apprenticeships?

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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We discussed this earlier. Across 2021 and 2022, €37 million has been provided to address the significant backlog which arose due to the Covid pandemic and the restrictions that were imposed throughout various lockdowns that significantly impacted the off the job training available to apprentices. SOLAS and our ETBs are providing extra capacity and are hiring extra trainers. They are doing everything they can to reduce the backlog. Earlier, I outlined the specific numbers in terms of how that will be reduced over the next number of months. We are making good headway on that.