Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1315. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost associated with a craft apprenticeship excluding the 45% used for allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19364/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1316. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost associated with a craft apprenticeship excluding the 36% used for consortia costs and set-up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19365/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1317. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the breakdown of the 36% cost of new apprenticeships used for consortia costs and set-up, particularly the percentage that goes on set-up costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19366/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1322. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the expenditure on consortia cost excluding set-up costs since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19409/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1315, 1316, 1317 and 1322 together.

The most recent figures for the total estimated annual cost per apprentice are from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform Spending Review of Apprenticeships which was published in 2019. The figure for craft apprenticeship is €7,159 with an average cost of €9,877 per apprentice for those apprenticeships established since 2016.

There are no consortia costs related to craft apprenticeship under the existing model. The percentage breakdown of the average cost associated with a craft apprenticeship excluding the 45% used for training allowances and as a whole of the craft expenditure is in the table.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the breakdown of the 36% cost of post-2016 apprenticeships used for consortia costs and set-up, particularly the percentage that goes on set-up costs and the expenditure on consortia cost excluding set-up costs since 2016 is currently being collated by SOLAS and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1318. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the minimum an employer is allowed to pay an apprentice under the new consortia led apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19367/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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. Payment is also based on attainment of relevant skill, knowledge and competence achieved after successfully completing each phase of training. The most up to date rates are attached.

In the case of the 35 apprenticeships established since 2016, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer. Apprentices are excluded from the provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act 2000.

SSHA

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of removing the annual student contribution and examination fees for all apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19368/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices by craft and new; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19369/21]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1345. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost to cover the pro rata student contribution for students enrolled in apprenticeships within higher education institutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20661/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1319, 1320 and 1345 together.

An Annual Student Contribution (ASC) is levied on all students attending Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and Technological Universities. The amount of ASC charged to apprentices is calculated on a pro rata basis of the time which they spend in the institution during the academic year. In cases where training is delivered in an Education and Training Board there is no contribution required from the apprentice.

For craft apprenticeships, the ASC charged is typically one third of the €3,000 ASC paid by students attending for the full academic year and so amounts to approximately €1,000 per apprentice per period spent in the IoT. In the case of consortia-led apprenticeships the contribution varies for each programme as off-the-job training has a more flexible structure, ranging from periods of block release to one day per week or remote learning options.

If the ASC was removed, with the apprentice paying examination fees only, then the cost to the State is estimated at an average €267 per apprentice per annum. Based on a current population of almost 20,000 registered apprentices, the estimated cost is €5.3M per annum.

The total number of registered apprentices as of the end of February 2021 is:

Craft programmes: 17,408

Consortia-led programmes: 2,566