Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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99. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the protections his Department can give to apprentices to ensure they receive the agreed wage and are doing work relevant to their apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Deputy is likely aware that the rate of pay of an apprentice is a contractual matter between the employer and the apprentice, depending on the nature of the apprenticeship. If it is a craft or consortia-led apprenticeship, it may come under a sectoral employment order, but it is sometimes governed by contract. Breaches of the contract, if any, come under the remit of the Payment of Wages Act 1991, which is a matter for my colleague, Deputy Peter Burke, as the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.

One of the key strengths and mechanisms of the apprenticeship system overall is the ETB training adviser. Each apprentice is assigned a training adviser, who serves as a vital link between SOLAS, the education provider, the apprentice and the employer. That adviser supports the apprentice through on-the-job and off-the-job training modules. One of the functions of the training adviser is to support apprentices in understanding and exercising their rights, both under the SOLAS apprenticeship code of practice for employers and apprentices and, more broadly, under employment legislation. If an employer fails to pay the agreed rate, or there is any other breach of the requirements, the training adviser can raise that issue directly with the employer. The adviser can intervene on the ground and remind employers of their obligations, including legal ones, such as the requirement to have a written contract in place with the apprentice. Every apprentice who is entitled to a contract should have a contract. That is part of the employment relationship. In cases, if they arise, where an employer fails to provide suitable work, despite interventions from the training adviser or SOLAS, SOLAS can institute sanctions progressively. Where necessary, SOLAS can intervene to prohibit an employer from registering apprentices again for an indefinite period.

In 2016, the Government introduced a new consortia-led model of apprenticeship, which the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin, and I are rolling out further. Under this model, every new apprenticeship programme includes a worker representative on the steering group. Again, that representative advocates for apprentices’ interests, including matters relating to pay and on-the-job training. I am considering models to roll out that governance and strengthen it further.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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SOLAS was at last week's committee meeting, when we were told nobody was overseeing that these things were happening. A percentage of apprentices said that they do not have any access to a training adviser. Some of them are afraid to complain in case they lose their apprenticeship place. Some of them are given an agreed wage through collective bargaining but are not getting that wage or are being asked to do jobs that are not relevant to their apprenticeship. Apprenticeships are an investment in the skills development of an employer's workforce and should not be a cost.

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The labour costs related to apprenticeships are lower than any other employment relationship, so when they are lowered again, this causes consternation among apprentices. It is not fair that they are being asked to do work that is not relevant to them and there is nobody overseeing this. We questioned SOLAS and the ETBs about this last week.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I am meeting representatives of SOLAS this week and I will raise it with them because it is not good enough if that is happening on the ground. I will make sure I engage with them on that matter. To some extent, all of us in any job end up taking on additional tasks or roles that may be slightly outside what we might be tasked to do. However, it should not be at scale, should not be routine and should not be repeated. Employers have no automatic entitlement to take on apprentices. Employers must fulfil their part of the bargain. An apprenticeship is a two-way street; it is not a one-way system at all. The employer gets the benefit of the employee, the apprentice, coming in applying their craft and their skills and bringing their energy and enterprise to the equation. The apprentice gets the benefit of the employer training them and providing other experienced employees in that workplace to assist and mentor. There is also a cost to the employer in doing that in taking other employees out of production to assist the apprentice coming through. It is a good system and has worked well for some time and one we want to expand and enhance. It requires adherence from both sides to their obligations.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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I hear the Minister on that but in my recent discussions with Connect, the trade union representing apprentices, I was told that there is great need for quality assurance in all areas of apprenticeships. This must be measured within the employment to ensure the apprenticeship is delivered properly and that the apprentice is given access to all areas of the curriculum which feature on the job. If SOLAS is responsible for employer registration, it should also be in responsible for ensuring that sanctions are imposed on those who fail to deliver a safe, fair and responsible framework of work for apprentices. We all know how important apprentices are. We all know that we need them when it comes to workers. When it comes to building for housing, we need apprentices. We also need to protect apprentices and make sure that they get through their apprenticeship in a fair and equitable way.

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I will recap on some of the measures that are available if there is any breach. There is a code of practice for employers and apprentices and sanctions are available. SOLAS imposes those sanctions should they arise. Section 11 of the code of practice sets out such measures as a written warning, a final written warning, suspension from being able to take on apprenticeships for six months, and indefinite suspension. It is a very legitimate concern. However, the recent survey confirms that overall it is largely a very positive experience. Apprentices get an opportunity to gain experience and work with people who have been in the job longer and can bring their own life experience to that. That mentoring and training is very valuable. They are getting paid; they earn as they learn, which is something unique about it. I have met apprentices throughout the country, as has the Minister of State, Deputy Harkin. Largely they find it an enjoyable, productive and worthwhile process. I absolutely agree that there should be sanctions for those who misbehave, but let us not lose sight of the bigger picture that many very successful relationships are going on there as well.