Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

194. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline the number of apprenticeships created in the past 12 months; the likely development in this area in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17128/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship, the first of the new programmes developed through the Apprenticeship Council’s first call for proposals, launched in September 2016 and the Industrial Engineer Apprenticeship commenced in November 2016. Three further apprenticeships in the manufacturing area have also recently completed validation and approval. Employers in those areas will be recruiting apprentices shortly.

Ten further new apprenticeships are due to launch later this year in various sectors including financial services, hospitality and ICT and a pipeline of new apprenticeships is in place for subsequent years. This pipeline will be refreshed through the launch of a new call for proposals later this month.