Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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301. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason for the lack of apprenticeships in areas such as health and social care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1114/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, the Apprenticeship Council is currently overseeing the expansion of the apprenticeship system in Ireland into a range of new sectors of the economy.  Last year, a second call for apprenticeship proposals invited consortia of enterprise, professional bodies and education and training providers to submit proposals for apprenticeship programmes to be developed to meet identified skill needs in their sector.  Arising from this call, last month I announced 26 new apprenticeship proposals to be further developed into national apprenticeship programmes, including a proposal for a Professional Healthcare Assistant Apprenticeship. This programme, which is two years in duration, will lead to a level 6 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications.  It is estimated that the development process will take between 12 and 15 months.