Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the occupations, trades or professions for which there is an apprenticeship currently established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22416/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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The list of existing 27 apprenticeship trades is set out in the following table.:

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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291. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the occupations, trades or professions for which there are new apprenticeships being developed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22417/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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292. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the establishment of a new apprenticeship; the details of the apprenticeships that are at various stages of development within his Department; the timeframe involved to bring these on stream; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22418/16]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 292 together.

In January 2015, the Apprenticeship Council formally invited proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. Over 80 separate proposals were received following strong engagement with stakeholders by the Department of Education and Skills, the Apprenticeship Council, SOLAS and HEA, as well as other relevant Departments and Agencies.

The Council assigned category 1 status to 25 proposals which were deemed to be at an advanced stage of design, planning and collaboration between education and industry and ready to enter a detailed development phase. The Council is working closely with the proposers of these new apprenticeships with a view to developing them into sustainable apprenticeships that can be delivered on a nationwide basis. A list of the 25 category 1 proposals are attached.

Up to ten of these proposals will be in a position to move to enrolment in 2016. The programmes identified have a good spread in both duration and level on the National Framework of Qualifications and have the potential to create up to 500 registrations in 2016. The programmes identified are as follows: Accounting Technician, International Financial Services (IFS) Associate Professional, IFS Specialist, IFS Advanced Specialist, Industrial Electrical Engineer, Insurance Practitioner, OEM Engineer, HGV Driver, Baker and Commis Chef. The bulk of the remaining category one proposals will enrol during 2017.

Category 1 Proposals