Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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1035. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current weekly rates for full apprenticeship programmes; and if a participant will receive an annual increase to their weekly rate while participating on a scheme. [33717/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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There are 58 apprenticeship programmes available as of November 2020. These programmes range in duration from two to four years and lead to qualifications at levels 6 to 10 of the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). A minimum of 50% of time must be spent in on-the-job training, however the off-the-job training component of the programme can range from remote delivery to one day per week on an ongoing basis or periods of release to training providers as in the ICT apprenticeship or the craft apprenticeships. In all cases, the apprenticeship contract is set out between the employer and the apprentice.

The rates of pay for the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes are agreed by the partners within the relevant sector, or are set out in Sectoral Employment Orders (Construction Sector and Mechanical Engineering Building Services Contracting Sector). Rates vary between occupations and sectors but in all cases craft apprenticeship rates are expressed as a proportion of the qualified rate, increasing yearly from 33% of the qualified rate in year one to 90% in year four. The most up to date rates are attached.

In the case of the remaining 33 consortia led apprenticeships the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer. These apprenticeships span across a wide range of sectors from hairdressing and hospitality to finance and biopharma.