Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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158. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide details of the progress that is being made to have training in the hospitality sector included in the redesign of the apprenticeship programme under SOLAS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3260/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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In 2013 a number of representative bodies from the hospitality sector made submissions as part of a consultation process during the review of apprenticeship which was undertaken by an independent Review Group established by the then Minister.

The Review Group recommended that an Apprenticeship Council be established and that it manage a call for proposals for the development of apprenticeships in new areas. I established the Apprenticeship Council late last year and they have recently invited proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. The proposals will be assessed by the Apprenticeship Council against a range of criteria before recommendations are submitted to me on the establishment of new apprenticeships.

Meetings have been held with a range of interested sectors, including the hospitality sector. Groups in the sector will now be considering making a proposal under the process. The deadline for proposals is 31 March 2015.