Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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246. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to support the development of a national hairdressing apprenticeship by an organisation (details supplied). [18561/19]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The development of a new national apprenticeship in hairdressing is almost complete. The apprenticeship was proposed by the Hairdressing Council of Ireland (HCI) with Limerick and Clare, Education and Training Board (ETB) as the coordinating provider. The consortium leading the development of the apprenticeship is made up of industry representatives from the HCI, Synergy Hair Group, the Irish Hairdressing Federation and Peter Mark.

The three year programme will be offered at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications and is expected to be underway by quarter 3, 2019. It is proposed that there will be a pilot of the apprenticeship in 6 ETBs and following this it will be rolled out nationally.

The proposed new hairdressing apprenticeship programme will meet skill needs in the industry by providing a sustainable stream of long term suitable employees.