Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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146. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the possibility of introducing a national accreditation programme for car mechanics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11223/18]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Fianna Fail)
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147. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the types of mechanics apprenticeships that are currently in operation; the number of persons availing of such schemes; and his plans to expand these schemes. [11224/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 146 and 147 together.

There are currently five nationally accredited apprenticeship programmes in mechanics in operation in Ireland, one of which is a Motor Mechanics apprenticeship.  Details of the apprentice population in each of these programmes at the end of February 2018 is set out in the attached tabular statement.

This Government is committed to supporting the increased registration of apprentices across all sectors.New apprenticeship registrations have risen from 2,698 in 2014 to 4,843 in 2017, which represents an increase of almost 80%.  To support the continued growth in registrations across both our existing craft apprenticeships and our new apprenticeships, Budget 2018 saw an allocation of €122m, which represents an increase of almost 24% on the 2017 allocation of €98.7m .

Apprentice Population Mechanical Pre 2016 Apprenticeships