Written answers

Thursday, 16 December 2021

Department of Education and Skills

Apprenticeship Programmes

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
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471. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is considering offering accredited apprenticeships for tiling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62620/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. Consequently, the number of apprentices being registered is determined by employers in the sector.

While there is no current apprenticeship dedicated to tiling. Floor and wall tiling is included as a module in the Plastering Apprenticeship. More information in relation to this apprenticeship and the other 61 apprenticeships which are currently available can found on www.apprenticeship.ie.

The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led and it is open to employers to work with education and training providers to develop new apprenticeships if there is sufficient demand from the sector. To be approved for development, proposals must be substantially different to existing apprenticeships in terms of course content. Full details on developing a new apprenticeships are available on www.apprenticeship.ie.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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472. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices on waiting lists to access off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62680/21]

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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477. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices waiting to assess off the job training in each county in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62777/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 477 together.

The COVID-related waiting list for off-the-job training places for craft apprentices is being addressed, underpinned by a Government investment of €37 million (€20M capital investment in 2021 supported by a €17M allocation in Budget 2022).

There are now 8,181 apprentices waiting for assignment to off-the-job training, down from 12,000 in August 2021. A breakdown by parent ETB is provided in the attachment.

In addition to those waiting for assignment, 3,143 craft apprentices have been assigned to commence a phase of off-the-job training during December and January. Those who have been waiting the longest are being prioritised. Registrations to craft apprenticeships remain strong with 5,934 craft apprentices registered year to date, and these apprentices must also be accommodated.

SOLAS, the HEA and education and training providers are continuing to work to ensure that craft apprentices are facilitated to complete their apprenticeship in as rapid a manner as is possible. In addition to investment in increased capacity across providers of craft apprentice off-the-job training, a number of reform measures have been agreed and are being implemented for the purposes of clearing the lists. These include changed delivery structures for Phase 2 off-the-job training which is facilitating a third intake of apprentices per annum and an opt-in rapid employer assessment which is being piloted at Phase 7 (on-the-job) for those apprentices who have completed Phase 6 and who have spent more than four years in their apprenticeship.

Further measures are being explored within the context of ensuring that all learning outcomes and quality assurance procedures remain in place to ensure that the integrity of the end qualification is maintained.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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473. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total saving incurred in 2020 and the projected savings in 2021 as a result of backlogs in apprentices accessing off-the-job training due to the State paying less in allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62681/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Craft apprenticeships account for 25 of the 62 existing available apprenticeship programmes which are delivered across the further and higher education and training sectors. They consist of four periods of on-the-job training interspersed with three periods of off-the-job training. The off-the-job training for these programmes is delivered in either ETB Training Centres, Institutes of Technology or Technological Universities, during this time craft apprentices receive a training allowance payment, the level of which is determined with reference to the relevant sectoral payment agreements.

COVID-related public health measures impacted on face to face training in a number of ways. Each of which had a different implication for the level of expenditure on off-the-job training allowances paid to craft apprentices.

For periods of complete closure of face-to-face training, those apprentices who had been scheduled to attend off-the-job training were retained on the off-the-job training phase and continued to receive a training allowance during this period. The retention of apprentices on Phase 2, 4 or 6, allowed for apprentices to engage with the restricted level of theory based training and remote assessment which could be delivered, given the practical course content, as these became available in 2020 and early 2021. It also provided surety for apprentices in relation to income during the closure of construction sites in early 2020.

When face-to-face training was allowed, it operated at 50% - 60% normal capacity until September 2021 to ensure adherence to public health distancing guidance. The level of expenditure on training allowance payments was therefore reduced in accordance with the reduced system capacity during this time.

Additional capacity coming on-stream from September 2021, combined with the potential for apprentices to receive an increased training allowance will be reflected in total expenditure for 2021. Apprentices are not penalised on their training allowances for operational issues that may arise. In circumstances where there has been a delay by SOLAS due to lack of available provision in the offer of a training place the apprentice may be entitled to payment of one phase rate higher e.g. on Phase 2 such apprentices may be paid the Phase 4 rate. On Phase 4 the apprentice may be paid the Phase 6 rate and on Phase 6 apprentices may be paid the fourth year rate.

The total saving declared in 2020 for the Apprenticeship programme was €23.2m. SOLAS expect to declare further savings of approximately €32m in 2021 resulting in a total saving in the region of €55m over the 2 years. Savings were made both from the number of apprentices receiving allowances, reduced expenditure on apprentice travel allowances as well as non – pay costs such as materials.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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474. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of registered apprentices; the number of registered craft apprentices; the number of craft apprentices who have been registered for over four or two years in the cases of those registered on two year apprenticeships in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62682/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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62 national apprenticeship programmes are currently operational: this includes 25 craft apprenticeships and 37 apprenticeships introduced since 2016. In addition, 17 further programmes are currently in development in sectors such as agriculture, ICT, hospitality, construction, engineering, and commercial driving.

At the end of November 2021 there were a total of 23,459 registered apprentices, of these 20,218 were craft apprentices, all of who undertake a minimum 208 week (4 year) apprenticeship which consists of four on-the-job phases and three off-the-job phases of training.

The following table shows the number of craft apprentices with a registration date prior to 2018. Of the 3,139 apprentices listed, 152 had a registration date prior to 2011 and 259 had a registration date between 2011-2015. 404 apprentices registered in 2016 and 2,324 registered in 2017.

Apprenticeships registered prior to 2018

Apprenticeship
Total
Agricultural Mechanics
10
Aircraft Mechanics
35
Brick and Stonelaying
33
Carpentry and Joinery
245
Construction Plant Fitting
23
Electrical
1,496
Electrical Instrumentation
137
Electronic Security Systems
21
Farriery
8
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
69
Industrial Insulation
≤5
Instrumentation
15
M.A.M.F.
89
Metal Fabrication
161
Motor Mechanics
237
Painting and Decorating
26
Pipefitting
7
Plastering
24
Plumbing
317
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
49
Sheet Metalworking
29
Stonecutting and Stonemasonry
≤5
Toolmaking
23
Vehicle Body Repairs
30
Wood Manufacturing and Finishing
44
Total
3,139

The figures reflect a range of circumstances arising where apprentices may leave their apprenticeship or defer elements of their apprenticeship for various reasons and then re-engage with their apprenticeship at a later date.

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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475. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of apprenticeships that use private education providers for the off-the-job component of the apprentices' education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62683/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeship is a work based learning opportunity. It is an employer-led offering based on a contract of employment between the apprentice and their respective employer. It incorporates a minimum of 50% on-the-job training with off-the-job training which is delivered in a number of different ways according to the apprenticeship programme. This ranges from remote or online learning to one day per week in an education institution or periods of off-the-job training (typically from 10-20 weeks) in an education and training institution at further or higher education level.

New apprenticeships are developed by consortia comprising representatives from industry, education and training providers and relevant stakeholders. 37 apprenticeships have been introduced since 2016, with a further 17 approved by the Apprenticeship Council for development. All craft apprenticeship off-the-job training is delivered through publicly funded institutions.

Private education and training institutions are involved in the delivery of 5 apprenticeships at the current time.All apprenticeship awards are validated by QQI and are delivered in adherence with national quality assurance standards as set out by QQI.

- Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner Apprenticeship (L6) - Griffith College Dublin

- Retail Supervision Apprenticeship (L6) – Coordinated by Retail Ireland Skillnet, delivered in Griffith College, Dublin and Galway Business School

- International Financial Services Associate (L6) - National College of Ireland

- Interational Financial Services Specialist Apprenticeship (L8) - National College of Ireland

- Recruitment Executive Apprenticeship (L8) - National College of Ireland

Photo of Rose Conway-WalshRose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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476. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will request his Department to collect the data on wages paid to apprentices in consortia-led apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62684/21]

Photo of Simon HarrisSimon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprentices are employees, who are paid under an apprenticeship contract of employment. This contract sets out the terms and conditions of the apprenticeship including the rate of pay applicable to that agreement. Sectoral Employment Orders apply to a number of sectors and these would include rates of pay for apprentices. These specific agreements apply to those sectors covered by the existing craft apprenticeships. Any breach of these conditions is an employment matter and is covered under existing employment appeals mechanisms, which are beyond the remit of the education and training sector.

Rates of pay for apprentices not covered under the above agreements are set by the employer and the apprentice. These rates will fluctuate depending on a number of factors including prior experience of the apprentice, the level of the apprenticeship or whether an apprentice is a new hire or an existing employee who is undertaking an apprenticeship to upskill or reskill within an organisation.

At this time I do not propose to collect information on the wage rates paid to the 23,500 apprentices registered to over 7,000 employers across 62 different programmes. Whilst this exercise may be undertaken in future system-level reporting for information purposes, I have no function in wage setting for employers beyond those employers involved in the delivery of further and higher education and training.

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