Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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835. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeship curriculum programmes that have been developed for adults returning to second chance learning; her plans to encourage the recruitment of a cohort of lone parents returning to the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29227/15]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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There are currently 27 trades covered by the apprenticeship system in Ireland. Recruitment to apprenticeship is undertaken by employers. As apprenticeship is concentrated in construction, motor and engineering, areas where employment is largely male, female participation in apprenticeship is low. There are efforts to increase female participation in the current trades, including a bursary scheme, but significant progress will require the broadening of apprenticeship to cover new sectors where the pattern of employment is more balanced.

In this context, I have recently received a report from the Apprenticeship Council in relation to the response to their call fro proposals for new apprenticeships. The Council received 86 separate submissions for new apprenticeships from 48 different organisations. The Council are recommending the priority development of 25 proposals into new apprenticeships and they are across a wide range of sectors. I expect that development work will begin on these proposals in the near future with the bulk of new apprenticeships, subject to the availability of resources, becoming available in 2016.