Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to increase the number of persons enrolled in apprenticeships (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19033/17]

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.