Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there has been collaboration between his Department and the Defence Forces to promote the Defence Forces as a career for apprentices. [40300/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of registered apprentices across various trades who have the Defence Forces listed as their employer. The national apprenticeship promotional campaign ‘Generation Apprenticeship’ is run by SOLAS and uses case studies in demonstrating the range of opportunities available within the 58 existing apprenticeship programmes. Individual employers are not typically highlighted within that campaign, with the focus being on the relevant apprenticeship programme.

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship for the coming 5-year period is nearing finalisation. The role of the public sector in apprenticeship recruitment was highlighted by a number of stakeholders and the Action Plan will include measures in this area. As an employer-led offering, increasing the number of public sector apprentices will require leadership from employers across the public sector.