Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost to the State of an apprenticeship; the amount of this cost that can be attributed to training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1113/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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It is estimated that the cost of training an apprentice in one of the existing craft apprenticeships is approximately €6,700 per annum therefore, given that these apprenticeships are 4 years in duration, the average cost of a craft apprenticeship is approximately €26,800.  The estimated cost of training an apprentice in one of the new consortia led apprenticeships is approximately €5,100 per annum.  These new apprenticeships vary in duration from two to four years therefore, the average cost of each apprenticeship depends on its duration.  The estimated cost of a new apprenticeship may be subject to further refinement as greater numbers of new apprenticeships come into operation.

All of these costs are attributed to training apprentices. In the craft apprenticeships, apprentices are paid a training allowance while attending their off-the-job phases and the employer pays their salary during their on-the-job phases. In the new consortia led apprenticeships the employer pays the apprentice’s salary for the duration of the apprenticeship.