Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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229. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual spend on apprenticeship training in each year from 2011 to 2014; the number of apprentices in training in each year; the way this is broken down across employment sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6544/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Following a number of years of decline, the number of registrations in the 27 existing apprenticeship trades - which are mainly in the construction, motor and engineering sectors- continues to rise as the employment and economic situation improves. This recovery in numbers is forecast to continue over the coming years.

Reform of the Irish apprenticeship system through the renewal of these existing apprenticeships as well as the development of apprenticeships in new enterprise sectors is a priority for my Department.

Table 1 sets out the information requested by the Deputy, based on information received from SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority. The costs outlined include the costs of allowances as well as provision costs associated with the off the job training phases in SOLAS Training Centres and in Institutes of Technology. Employers pay apprentices during the on-the-job elements of the programme.

Table 1.

End of Year Live Population by Sector & Trade 2011 - 2014

(Number of apprentices recorded as in employment at 31 December each year).