Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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553. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprenticeships that have been furloughed; the number that have been made redundant as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23717/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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SOLAS has been engaging with the apprenticeship collaborating providers throughout the COIVD-19 emergency, a key focus of which was to ensure, as much as possible, continuity of learning and assessment and preparations for the return of apprenticeship training this month, in line with public health advice.

Part of this work involved gathering up-to-date information on the status of apprentices in terms of their employment, and any impact from COVID-19. To this end SOLAS have been engaging with staff in Education and Training Boards to provide an update to the national apprenticeship database, whereby they would engage with apprentices and employers and update the system if there was a change in an apprentices employment status.

These updates continue and the latest information available is that 134 apprentices were placed in temporary layoff and 48 were made redundant. In addition the updates show that 117 apprentices have their employment supported through their employer accessing the temporary wages subsidy scheme.