Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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209. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to tackle the skills shortage in apprenticeships in the construction sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35055/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The standards based apprenticeship scheme is a demand driven alternance programme. The continuity of apprentice registrations and the number of apprentices registered with SOLAS is determined by individual employers within a broad range of occupational sectors. Consequently, the number of construction related apprentices being registered with SOLAS is determined initially by employers within the construction sector.

SOLAS is committed to supporting an overall increase in apprenticeship registrations, particularly in relation to the construction sector. SOLAS, working within the statutory parameters of the apprenticeship system, has recently been engaging with the Construction Industry Federation and the Construction Industry Council regarding a proposal which will support and encourage employers within the construction sector to employ and register apprentices to a range of construction related apprenticeships.

SOLAS is currently awaiting a formal response from the Construction Industry Federation and the Construction Industry Council in this regard.