Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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337. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of persons in 2016 and to date in 2017 on each apprenticeship scheme; the progress made on introducing new apprenticeship schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36002/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The information sought by the Deputy in relation to the number persons on each apprenticeship scheme in 2016 and to date in 2017 is set out in the table.

In January this year the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 was published, which sets out how State agencies, education and training providers and employers will work together to deliver on the Action Plan for Education commitments on the expansion in the area. As the employment and economic situation improves we continue to see strong growth in apprenticeship registrations. At the end 2016 there were 3,821 new apprenticeship registrations which compared to 1,430 registrations in 2012. The upward trend is expected to continue in the coming years with annual registrations forecast to grow from 4,947 at the end of 2017 to 9,000 by 2020.

To date five new apprenticeship programmes have been developed by the Apprenticeship Council following its first call for proposals in 2015, in Insurance Practice, Industrial Electrical Engineering, Polymer Processing Technology, Manufacturing Technology and Manufacturing Engineer. A further ten programmes are scheduled to get under way later this year in various sectors including hospitality, accounting and financial services.

A key commitment set out in the Plan for this year was the issuing of a second call for proposals to refresh the pipeline of proposals already established through the first call. The second call issued on 4 May and will remain open until 1 September.

Apprentice Population 2016 - 2017 by Sector and Trade.

Consortia Led Apprenticeships Total 2016/2017.