John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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As the Deputy is aware, apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market.  Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers in the sector.

Over the last number of years the number of employers registering apprentices to the craft of print media has significantly declined. Out of the 145 apprentices who were registered on the print media apprenticeship between 2006-2017 only 87 completed their apprenticeship and gained certification.  Due to the low participation level, in September 2016 SOLAS suspended registrations in the print media programme and undertook to engage with the sector to see how the programme could be updated and made fit for future purpose.

I understand from SOLAS that in 2017 the Irish Printing Federation carried out a survey of the industry to ascertain the level of support for an apprenticeship on an ongoing basis. The findings from the survey indicated there was insufficient support from industry to sustain an apprenticeship in the sector. Engagement took place with SOLAS and the print media industry early in 2018. In light of this, SOLAS has paused the apprenticeship until such time as there is sufficient support from the sector. Any capital funding for the programme would be determined as part of this updating process.

Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to remove apprenticeship fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29387/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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An Annual Student Contribution is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs).  Previously this Annual Student Contribution was paid by FÁS/SOLAS with apprentices themselves paying the part of the contribution relating to examination fees. As part of Budget 2014, SOLAS ceased making payments to IoTs and apprentices pay the full pro rata Annual Student Contribution.

The amount charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in IoTs during the academic year. This cost would typically be one third of the Annual Student Contribution paid by students attending for the full academic year, currently €3,000 and would amount to approximately €1,000 per student per period spent in the Institutes of Technology. 

There are no plans to abolish the Annual Student Contribution for apprentices.