Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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250. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which efforts continue to be made to create apprenticeship opportunities under various trades; the degree to which shortages have been identified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47207/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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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 within each sector. My Department 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%.

As the Deputy is aware, the Government is currently expanding the range of apprenticeships on offer to meet the identified skill needs of industry. To date 17 new apprenticeship programmes are now operational following the Apprenticeship Council’s two calls for apprenticeship proposals in 2015 and 2017. These new programmes span a variety of sectors ranging from financial services, biopharma, ICT to hospitality. Further new apprenticeships will get underway in 2018 and 2019 in various sectors including construction, engineering, horticulture and agriculture. Over the lifetime of the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeships 2016-2020 we will see over 40 new apprenticeships being delivered.