Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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133. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question Nos 266 of 23 May 2017 and 99 of 18 October 2017, the reason for the €13.3 million budget cut in funding for apprenticeships in 2018; if this will result in a downward revision of the targets in the number of apprentices and the number of new apprenticeship programmes set out in the action plan for apprenticeships and traineeships 2016 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45197/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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There is no budget cut in funding for apprenticeships. Budget 2018 provides €122 million for apprenticeship training in 2018, compared to €98 million in 2017, a 24% increase.

In answer to Parliamentary Question 266 of the 23rd May 2017 it was estimated that a budgetary provision of €135.3m was required for apprenticeship training in 2018. This estimate was based on an assumed per capita cost at that time. During the recent budgetary process, the Higher Education Authority and SOLAS provided their budget requirement for 2018, based on the current apprenticeship population and target registrations for 2018. This is what determined the budgetary provision. While the overall cost per apprentice is lower than that assumed in responding the Parliamentary Question in May, there is no reduction in the 2018 apprenticeship targets as set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016 – 2020.