Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maintain the apprenticeship of cabinet making. [24603/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maintain the apprenticeship of floor and wall tiling. [24604/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maintain the apprenticeship of wood machinist. [24605/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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260. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maintain the apprenticeship of print media. [24606/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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261. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maintain the apprenticeship of printing. [24607/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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262. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to maintain the apprenticeship of book binding. [24608/17]

Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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263. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the apprenticeships that have been discontinued or amalgamated since 2007. [24609/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 to 263, inclusive, together.

I have been informed by SOLAS that in 2009, following consultation with industry representative stakeholders, it was agreed to amalgamate the apprenticeships of cabinet making, wood machining and wood finishing into a new apprenticeship Wood Manufacturing and Finishing, which reflects the knowledge, skill and competency needs of the sector.

In January 2017 SOLAS suspended registrations to the Print Media Apprenticeship as the print sector was not registering apprentices. SOLAS has engaged with the sector and is currently awaiting clarification on future training requirements.

Within the Print Media programme, relevant technical elements of Book Binding were maintained. The Book Binding Apprenticeship, along with the other print based apprenticeships, were discontinued in 2005.

In March 2017 is was agreed to amalgamate the Plastering and Floor and Wall Tiling Apprenticeships as a means of sustaining floor and wall tiling skills.

Over the period in question, new apprenticeships were developed in Pipefitting and in Stonecutting and Stonemasonry. In addition, 5 new apprenticeships are now in place as a result of the Apprenticeship Council's first call for proposals, with a further 10 planned for the remainder of 2017.