Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is evidence of a decline in the number of new registrations on construction related apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49754/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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As a demand driven programme, the number of apprentice placements is determined by employers within the construction sector. In recent years, annual intake in construction related apprenticeships has steadily been increasing, from a low of 650 in 2010 rising to 3,499 in 2019.

The impact of Covid-19 and the closure of the construction sector in March 2020 impacted heavily on apprentice registrations in the first half of 2020. Registrations recovered in the second half of the year with the support of the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme, which provides an employer grant of €3,000 payable over two years to support employers who take on and retain apprentices with 3,104 registrations on construction related apprenticeships by year end.

This trend is continuing into 2021 and there were 3,116 registrations on construction related apprenticeships to the end of September 2021.

Among the 62 apprenticeships available at levels 5-10 of the National Framework of qualifications, current programmes relevant to the construction sector are centred on traditional craft apprenticeships at level 6 of the National Framework of Qualifications along with apprenticeships in roofing and cladding and advanced quantity surveyor (L9) currently in development.

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out a five year plan which sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the plan seek to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025 across all sectors of the economy including construction.

Under the Action Plan, craft apprenticeships will migrate from a centralised model of delivery managed by SOLAS to a distributed model of delivery led by industry and education and training providers. This will deliver greater responsiveness to changing demand and it will be delivered over the full duration of the Plan.

Additionally, throughout the duration of the plan, a new National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) will drive central branding and promotional activities targeted to heighten public awareness of the range of apprenticeship offerings in all sectors including construction.

Where a skills need is identified within a sector then a defined employer-led process for proposing and developing an apprenticeship is available through the www.apprenticeship.ie site. Where new and emerging skills needs are identified then actions under the plan will ensure that employers receive practical supports and advice should they wish to develop an apprenticeship within their sector.

Prospective apprentices will be able to find out information about apprenticeship opportunities and will receive more support and clearer communication throughout their entire learning journey, including exploring the opportunity for craft apprentices to express preferences on the location of their off-the-job training, where practicable.

By 2025 apprenticeship will be a clear choice for people looking for a new career, qualification or return to work option across all sectors of the economy including construction and employers will see the value and benefit of apprenticeship in meeting the skills requirements of their workforce.