Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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563. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applications received and approved under the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme since March 2020, by county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28657/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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564. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the timeframe for the development and completion of the apprenticeship action plan 2021 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28658/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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565. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled and participating on each of the 57 apprenticeship programmes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28659/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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566. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices enrolled and participating on each of the 57 apprenticeship programmes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28660/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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567. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of women and men, respectively, enrolled and participating on each of the 57 apprenticeship programmes in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28661/20]

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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568. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices aged 16 to 17, 18 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29 and over 30 years of age in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28662/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 to 568, inclusive, together.

Apprentice participation by gender and age [16 to 17, 18 to 21, 22 to 24, 25 to 29 years and over 30 years of age] are set out in the tabular statements below.

The Programme for Government committed to publishing an updated Apprenticeship Action Plan which will look at new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to cover the period 2021-2025. Stakeholders were invited to review a consultation paper which set out the current governance and operational structures of the apprenticeship system in July 2020.

58 submissions were received from stakeholders such as employer groups, representative groups, education providers and individual apprentices and members of the public. The submissions are currently being analysed to assess emerging themes and issues arising. This consultation is being supplemented with feedback from SME employers through the Regional Skills Fora and an apprentice questionnaire which will issue during October. Further engagement on major findings and emerging themes will be held as necessary in November.

Drafting will be undertaken in parallel with the work outlined above and will be finalised in late November and early December for consideration by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Minister for Skills and Further Education.

As of 2^ndOctober 466 applications (not approved payments) for the apprenticeship incentivisation scheme were received in respect of 859 apprentices. A total of €124,000, as of Friday 25th September, were paid to employers. Details of applications that have currently been processed for payment county by county are set out in an attached tabular statement.

Apprentices Age Breakdown

Live Apprentice population at end of September 2020 - All Trades

Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme - Processed Payments

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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569. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on the introduction of a national access to apprenticeship programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28663/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 300 learners availed of dedicated pre-apprenticeship training in 2019, growing to 580 places in 2020. SOLAS, in partnership with the HEA and with the support of the Apprenticeship Council, intends to continue developing access pathways with all providers, including TU Dublin, during 2020 and into the 2020-2021 academic year.

Technological University Dublin has developed an Access to Apprenticeship programme. This innovative pilot programme supports the transition of young people (16-24 years old) from areas of socio-economic disadvantage into craft apprenticeships. To date over 118 young men and women have progressed into apprenticeships through this program.

In addition to pre-apprenticeship programmes, initiatives underway to boost apprenticeship across tertiary education include:-

- The apprenticeship “jobs market” platform (www.apprenticejobs.ie) is designed to increase visibility of opportunities for all potential apprentices. It is free to use by employers who are approved by SOLAS to train apprentices and potential apprentices. To date 963 Employers have registered with theplatform.

- A new online facility for approving new apprenticeship employers went live in October 2019 to streamline the application process for employers wishing to take on apprentices.

- The Generation Apprenticeship competition was rolled out at second level for the first time in 2020 with 156 second level schools, Youthreach Centres and Community Training Centres taking part (see www.gacomp.ie).

- Broader approaches to widening access to apprenticeships also include developing links between Youthreach and Community Training Centre (CTC) provision.