Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the last occasion a forecast was conducted by the skills and labour market and research unit of SOLAS and its apprenticeship services unit for annual registration targets for both craft and consortia-led apprenticeships respectively, in each of the years to 2020 and over the next five years. [52821/18]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The target registrations as set out in the Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland for both craft and consortia led apprenticeships are attached. In the case of craft apprenticeships, the targets are the forecast figures produced by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit for SOLAS (SLMRU).

The latest forecast was carried out in October 2016 for craft apprenticeships. I am informed by SOLAS that due to a break in the Central Statistics Office (CSO) data series and issues with the ESRI macro-economic model there had been difficulties in updating of skills forecasts by the SLMRU. However, work is underway on a comprehensive forecast for craft apprenticeships up to 2022 which will be completed shortly.

The SLMRU has, to date, not conducted forecasts for consortia led apprenticeships. Unlike in the craft sectors, there is not yet a clear and developed relationship between activity and registrations in these areas, partly because industry needs are being met through a range of programmes in further and higher education and training as well as through other forms of employer led training.

Targets 2016 - 2020