Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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768. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of participants who are registered on craft apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programmes; the number of these participants who are from lower socioeconomic backgrounds; and the number of these participants who are male and female, respectively in tabular form. [22150/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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769. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of participants who have completed a craft apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programme since 2018; the number who have progressed to a undertake a craft apprenticeship; and the number who have progressed to higher education following completion of the programme in tabular form. [22151/21]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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770. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of participants who have completed a craft apprenticeship pre-apprenticeship programme since 2018; and the number who have completed the programme who were male and female, respectively in tabular form. [22152/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 768 to 770, inclusive, together.

The overall aim of the PLC Pathways to Apprenticeship Programme is to provide opportunities for learners to gain experience in areas where they are considering undertaking an apprenticeship. Initial planning data indicates that over 800 learners will participate in pre-apprenticeship programmes in 2021.

The recently published Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 promotes access, diversity and inclusion in apprenticeship by setting out a range of targeted supports to encourage participation from young people and under-represented groups such as women, those with disabilities and those from ethnic minority backgrounds.  This includes ensuring that information on access to apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship courses is available on www.apprenticeship.ie and that progression routes into apprenticeship will be clearly identified.

Under the action plan, the impacts of and outcomes from interventions across the sector such as the TU Dublin Access to Apprenticeship programme, pre-apprenticeship programmes and the female apprentice bursary will be examined to provide an evidence base for best practice and future interventions.

Please see attached enrolment and completion numbers in pre-apprenticeship PLC programmes by gender. The courses only include craft apprenticeship.  SOLAS does not hold information on the socio-economic background of these learners or progress into apprenticeship or the Higher Education system.

Number of learners on craft pre-apprenticeship PLC programmes