Written answers

Tuesday, 9 November 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Apprenticeship Programmes

Photo of Jennifer WhitmoreJennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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508. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the efforts being made by his Department to increase the number of apprenticeships for the new retrofitting plan; the bodies that will be facilitating those apprenticeships for retrofitting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54293/21]

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The workforce required to support the level of retrofit activity as set out in the Climate Action Plan includes individuals with a wide range of skills from insulation operatives, craft workers, engineering and legal professionals among others. Education and training to support skills development for retrofit is delivered across the entire spectrum of the tertiary education and training system through short courses targeted to upskilling and knowledge awareness for existing professionals and upskilling for non-craft operatives in addition to apprenticeships and other further and higher education and training programmes.

In relation to apprenticeship, a key objective of the Government's Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to ensure that the apprenticeship system will increase its contribution to meeting Ireland’s skills and human capital requirements by delivering on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. The Plan is intended to drive the development of apprenticeship to increase its attractiveness to employers in meeting their workforce requirements, facilitating the green and digital transformation.

Among the 62 apprenticeships available at levels 5-10 of the National Framework of Qualifications current qualifications relevant to retrofit activity include construction related apprenticeships such as plumbing, carpentry and joinery, plastering and painting and decorating and the recently launched scaffolding apprenticeship. Support activities may be facilitated through existing apprenticeships in Auctioneering and Property Services (L6), Logistics (L7-9) and Sales (L6). Apprenticeships are also in development in Roofing and Cladding (L5) and Advanced Quantity Surveyor (L9). Curricula in existing apprenticeships are updated on an ongoing basis to keep pace with changes in industry practices and regulations.

There is no specific retrofit apprenticeship at the current time. The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers can come together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector. The framework for development of an apprenticeship programme is available on www.apprenticeship.ie and interested organisations can also contact SOLAS directly to discuss requirements for the development of new apprenticeships.

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