Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1114. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to address the backlog in the processing of examinations and assessments for participants in apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14320/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1116. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to address the delay in aspects of apprenticeship programmes resulting in students facing a training period longer than the four year programme they originally took up including the additional financial strain and resultant loss of earnings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14322/21]

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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1124. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address an issue regarding apprenticeships (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14748/21]

Malcolm Noonan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)
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1131. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to delays facing electrical instrumentation apprentices in obtaining a qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14896/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1114, 1116, 1124 and 1131 together.

There has been a 90% increase in the apprentice population since 2015.  Existing off-the-job training facilities, particularly in Electrical and Plumbing apprenticeships had been coming under increasing pressure to facilitate the rapid growth in apprentice population.

The COVID-19 related suspension of face to face training for craft apprentices in Training Centres, Institutes of Technology and Technological Universities has had a significant impact on waiting times.  When permissible, on-site practical training is operating at approximately 50% normal capacity to ensure adherence to public health guidance.  Since January 11th training facilities have been closed again however education and training providers have been able to front-load theoretical training online for some groups of apprentices to ensure that their training continues, albeit not in the important practical elements of their course.

A phased return to onsite training has commenced for apprentices who have been assessed as time critical at all phases of their apprenticeship.  This largely impacts on those apprentices who were close to completion of a phase of training when training was suspended in January 2021.  While different sectors will have demands for on-the-job availability  of apprentices at different time-points in the year, it is important to provide the opportunity for apprentices to complete their porgramme in a timely manner and every effort is being made within the system to facilitate their progress.

In addition to the urgent work on returning apprentices to onsite training, SOLAS and the HEA are working on the development of additional training capacity across education and training providers with the objective of tackling the waiting lists and ensuring that apprentices complete their training as quickly as possible.  I recently approved €20M in capital expenditure to facilitate an additional 4,000 places across the system in the coming period.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1115. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will establish a mechanism to include apprenticeship students in discussions on the way Covid-19 strategy implementation will affect both on-the-job and off-the-job phases of apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14321/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Apprenticeship is undertaken under a contract of employment and apprentices are therefore employees. There are 60 apprenticeships currently available and of these it is the 25 craft apprenticeships which are primarily affected by Covid-19.  The trade unions which represent these apprentices are members of the National Apprenticeship Advisory Committee (NAAC).  SOLAS engage with the NAAC on Covid-19 planning in apprenticeship delivery.

In addition as part of an extensive consultation process to inform the new Action Plan for Apprenticeship feedback was gathered from 3,750 apprentices who answered a survey on their experience of the system.  Actions arising from this feedback will ensure that the apprentice voice will be heard over the lifetime of the new Action Plan, 2021-2025 and into the future.