Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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162. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the lack of apprenticeships suitable for a number of employment vacancies such as chefs and in the hospitality sector generally to upskill young unemployed persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10704/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Apprenticeship Council was established in early 2014 to oversee the expansion of the apprenticeship system into a range of new areas. Its first task was to formally invite proposals for new apprenticeship programmes from consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers. Over 80 separate proposals were received all of which were evaluated by the Council. Following the evaluation process, the Council prioritised 25 proposals for development. Included in these proposals are a number of proposals in the hospitality sector, particularly in the culinary area.

Work is progressing on the development of a new Commis Chef Apprenticeship led by the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland working with Kerry Education and Training Board.  It is planned that this programme will commence in 2017. The Apprenticeship Council recently approved development funding for a separate proposal to develop a Chef de Partie Apprenticeship. The Council will continue to work closely with these consortia to develop their proposals into sustainable apprenticeships that can be delivered on a nationwide basis.

Earlier this year, I launched the Action Plan to expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020.  The Plan commits to a new call for apprenticeship proposals later this year, to provide for the needs of all sectors, including hospitality and tourism.

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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163. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the uptake in the number of apprenticeships by females; if his Department has proposals to address the issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10705/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, in order to be registered as an apprentice by SOLAS, a person must be employed by an approved employer in one of the 27 craft trades. Recruitment to apprenticeship is therefore driven by employers rather than by SOLAS or by education and training providers.  The 2014 Review of Apprenticeship in Ireland acknowledged that the number of women employed in craft apprenticeships is low as they operate in sectors that have traditionally low levels of female employment. SOLAS offers a bursary to employers to encourage them to employ female apprentices in these areas. Despite this the number of female apprentices remains low.

Currently the Apprenticeship Council is overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system into a range of new areas, following a call for proposals from employers and education and training providers.  In recent months, we have seen the first of these new apprenticeships with the new Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship launching in September 2016 and the Industrial Electrical Engineer Apprenticeship commencing in November 2016.  13 Further new apprenticeships will get underway in 2017, many of which are in sectors where there is a different gender balance in the workplace and I am confident that this will lead to a strong increase in female participation when these new apprenticeships are launched.

As set out in the recently published Action Plan to Extend Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020, my Department will, in conjunction with SOLAS, review the pathways to participation in apprenticeship in a range of diverse groups, including female participation, in light of the broadening of the apprenticeship system into new areas. The review will be completed in 2018 and any recommendations made will be implemented immediately.

As part of the plan to expand apprenticeship, SOLAS will introduce a new branding and marketing campaign which will, in particular, focus on attracting more women to take up apprenticeships.