Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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258. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when apprenticeship off-the-job training will return to full capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44386/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Craft apprenticeship training has been adversely impacted by the pandemic, with training centres that provide the practical training to apprentices in their off-the-job phase closed for significant periods of time to adhere to public health guidance. When centres were allowed to reopen they did so only at 50-60% capacity due to social distancing measures which have been in place.

However as we begin to reopen society safely the apprenticeship system can start to return to 100% operational capacity. This is seen in the plans for the month of September, whereby almost 3,000 apprentices have been scheduled to commence their off-the-job phase as we return to full capacity for the first time since March 2020.  Classes in October and onwards will continue to be scheduled at full capacity, subject to local conditions and prevailing public health advice.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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259. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 822 of 9 September 2021, the average duration of time it takes to complete each type of apprenticeship in practice rather than the intended duration in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44387/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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That attached table represents an analysis of 2,484 apprentices who have qualified in their craft apprenticeship over the past five years, by reviewing start and end dates. The average duration is provided by programme, with the exception of the Electronic Security Systems programme as this programme has a substantial number of apprentices who, because of their industry experience, have been through a process of recognition of prior learning (RPL).  As a result they often start at phase 6 of the programme and this consequently means they have a much lower duration on average (c2.5 years). Note that some programmes have a slightly lower than 4 year duration on average but this is due to the fact that some apprentices have received time exemptions as part of their apprenticeship, thus reducing the duration overall.

The figures are an analysis of apprentices who have qualified.  As the Deputy is aware, there is currently a backlog in accessing off-the-job training for a number of craft apprenticeships which will increase average programme duration for the current cohort of craft apprentices.  Work is ongoing on addressing the backlogs, including providing a permanent increase in system capacity and also in providing targeted responses to increase off-the-job training places until all waiting lists have been addressed.