Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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199. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the annual fees in existence for both craft-based and new consortia-based apprenticeships for persons enrolled by annual student contributions and registration fees in tabular form; the annual bursary apprentices may receive in both craft- and consortia-based apprenticeships; and if the ending of such fees as a way to stimulate uptake in courses is being given consideration. [52822/18]

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 undertaking both craft and new consortia led apprenticeships is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in IoTs during the academic year. For craft apprenticeships, this cost would typically be one third of the €3,000 Annual Student Contribution paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT. In the case of the new consortia led apprenticeships the contribution varies for each programme as their off-the-job training has a more flexible structure. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution made by the apprentice. There are no plans to abolish the Annual Student Contribution for apprentices.

SOLAS offers a bursary of €2,666.44 to eligible employers, rather than the apprentices themselves, to encourage them to employ female apprentices in one of the craft apprenticeships. The bursary is applied by the relevant Education and Training Board at a rate of €95.23 per week for 28 weeks as a contribution towards the apprentice's salary and other costs. It is paid in two instalments, the first on completion of phase 1 of an apprenticeship and the second during phase 3 when the apprentice completes the balance of the 28 applicable weeks with their employer. The bursary is currently not paid to employers of female apprentices in new apprenticeships as generally the uptake by women on these apprenticeships is higher. However, following the publication of the Review of Pathways to Participation in Apprenticeship, consideration is being given to extending the employer bursary to all apprenticeships which have less than 20% female participation.