Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

253. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of male and female apprentices in training by each employment sector and subsector at 31 March 2018, for craft based and consortia led apprenticeships in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18063/18]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

254. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of new apprenticeship registrations in each employment sector and subsector in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to 31 March 2018, for craft based apprenticeships in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18064/18]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

257. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the targeted apprentice registrations forecasted for all craft based apprenticeships and registrations planned under new consortia led apprenticeship programmes; the number of existing and new apprenticeship programmes forecasted in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number of realised apprentice registrations and new programmes operationalised for these targets at 31 December 2016, 31 December 2017 and 31 March 2018, in tabular form. [18067/18]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the forecasted apprentice population in each employment sector and subsector in each of the years 2016 to 2020 by craft based and new consortia led apprenticeships; and the apprentice population at 31 December 2016, 31 December 2017 and 31 March 2018, in tabular form. [18068/18]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the State funding, that is, National Training Fund and Exchequer funding, allocated to craft based and consortia led apprenticeships by design, validation, training costs, off the job training and other costs incurred in each of the years 2015 to 2017 and to date in 2018, in tabular form. [18069/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254 and 257 to 259, inclusive together.

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statements.

Apprenticeship

black text = Craft based

red text = consortia led

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

255. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of male and female trainees enrolled by employment sector and subsector at 31 March 2018 for existing traineeships and new and relaunched traineeships in tabular form; the budget allocation in 2016, 2017, and 2018 for State funded traineeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18065/18]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

256. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of live traineeship programmes forecast for all existing traineeships; the targeted new enrolments per annum; the forecasted cumulative number of traineeship programmes; the planned new enrolments per annum for new and relaunched traineeships in each of the years 2016 to 2020; and the number realised for existing traineeships and new and relaunched traineeships (details supplied) for these targets at 31 December 2017, in tabular form. [18066/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 256 together.

The Government is prioritising the expansion of traineeship offerings as part of the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship 2016-2020. At the end of 2017, an additional eight new traineeships had been developed in areas such as hospitality, engineering and animation. The programmes have been designed by ETBs working in collaboration with employers to meet identified skill needs. In addition, we have broadened the eligibility criteria on participation to include school leavers, older learners and people in employment.

A new Five-Step Guide to traineeship has been developed which is aimed at employers seeking practical information on how to develop a traineeship within their company. The guide provides practical information on what a traineeship is; how employers and prospective trainees can access traineeship programmes; information on current traineeship opportunities, and the five-step process to developing a new traineeship.

I have been informed by SOLAS that they are currently reviewing the 2017 end of year traineeship enrolments figure and also the gender breakdown of enrolments for the first quarter of 2018. I will forward this information to the Deputy once it has been verified and validated.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to traineeship targets and budget allocation is set out in the following tables.

Targets 2016 - 2020

Allocation for Traineeships