John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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1168. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the public bodies in counties Carlow and Kilkenny that will be included in his new proposals to develop public bodies apprenticeship schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1761/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Government has set an overall target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.

The number of apprenticeship places across the public service will also grow to reach 750 new apprentices every year by 2025. This represents in excess of a seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by public service employers.

The diversity of the public service in terms of service delivery provides a wide basis for involvement with the range of existing apprenticeships and those in development. Apprenticeship provides an opportunity to target and widen the recruitment pool for both generalist and specialist roles within the public service.

To achieve growth in public service apprenticeship registrations, my Department in late 2021 organised several information sessions on apprenticeship for public service bodies including local governments.

A working group has been established this month to devise a public service recruitment plan. The Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) has nominated a member to join this group to represent local government.

The group will work to develop a plan on public service recruitment by summer 2022, based on surveying organisations in relation to their skills needs. The content, level and duration of public service apprenticeships will be determined by the identified skills needs.

There is already strong engagement amongst local authorities with apprenticeship programmes. As apprenticeship is employer-driven, I would encourage both Kilkenny and Carlow county councils to consider the range of 62 programmes currently available to see how any of their existing skills needs can be met through this method of training.