Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein)
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512. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if construction-related apprenticeships can be taken up on public or private projects in the State awarded to non-resident contractors. [2259/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Apprenticeship is the route through which persons are trained to become craftspeople in Ireland. The main craft trades have been designated by SOLAS and come within the scope of the statutory apprenticeship system. Apprenticeship in Ireland is administered and managed by SOLAS in co-operation with the Higher Education Authority, my Department, Employer Bodies and Trade Unions.

In order to become an apprentice in Ireland a person must first secure employment in the trade. Once a firm offer of a contract of apprenticeship has been made by the company to the potential apprentice the company requires SOLAS approval to register their employee as an apprentice.

SOLAS has a range of criteria to approve both indigenous and non-indigenous companies to recruit and register apprentices.