Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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166. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the methodology behind the forecasts for new registrations for craft apprentices in each of the years 2017 to 2020; the basis for same; the reason the registrations peak in 2018 at 6,975 new registrations decline in 2019 and 2020; if construction activity inputs are included in this forecasting model; and the indicators of construction activity that were used. [29187/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware apprenticeship is a demand driven alternance educational and training programme and the allocation of provision is determined by the skill demands of employers.

SOLAS, through its Skills and Labour Market and Research Unit (SLMRU) and its Apprenticeship Services Unit, regularly conducts forecasts of apprenticeship requirements.  The SLMRU has developed a comprehensive methodology to generate annual five-year forecasts of apprentice intake for construction trades. The forecasts are revised annually and are due to be updated later this year.  The methodology takes account of output forecasts, in money terms, for various segments of the construction industry, the CSO’s Quarterly National Household Survey (QNHS) and the relationship between apprentice intake and employment trends in the sectors.

The forecasts for registrations in craft apprenticeships are set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-20.  They show rising registrations up to 2020.