Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael)
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1290. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if plans for new apprenticeship programmes by Letterkenny Institute of Technology and ETB Donegal will be supported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18732/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector. The Apprenticeship Council examine any proposals arising in the context of identified skills needs. No expressions of interest or initial proposals for new apprenticeships have been received from Letterkenny Institute of Technology or Donegal Education and Training Board.

The apprenticeship website www.apprenticeship.ie invites persons or groups with a query on an initial proposal for a new national apprenticeship to email appcouncil@solas.ie. An is available on this site to support this process, as is a on Developing a National Apprenticeship.

The Guidance document notes that proposals will be assessed on an ongoing basis by the Apprenticeship Council and that following assessment, representatives of the Apprenticeship Council will engage with proposers. All apprenticeship proposals therefore go through a rigorous evaluation process which is led by the Council, and approval is subject to the applications meeting a prescribed set of requirements.

This process will be aligned with relevant aspects of the Apprenticeship Action Plan 2021 – 2025 as new structures come into existence.