Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
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691. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide guideline estimates or targets for the number of apprenticeships she expects to be provided annually under the apprenticeship system. [30328/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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An examination of the apprenticeship data in the existing trades demonstrates there was a 40% increase in the number of apprentice registrations in 2014 compared to 2013.

The prognosis forecast for future apprenticeships registrations remains strong. The number of apprentices being registered in 2015 by employers is 17% higher than the corresponding time in 2014.

SOLAS has forecast an annual incremental and systematic growth in apprentice registrations over the coming years. The forecast apprentice registrations expected to occur from 2015 to 2018 are as follows:

In addition, I have recently received the report of the Apprenticeship Council on the outcome of their call for proposals for the development of new apprenticeships. The Council have recommended that 25 of the proposals be prioritised for development and I am considering this recommendation with a view to approving proposals for development.