Christopher O'Sullivan (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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67. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to date under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025; the number of new apprentices registered per sector; the status of the setting up of the national apprenticeship office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6374/22]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025published in April last year. The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a manner which presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike.

The Action Plansets a target of 10,000 annual apprentice registrations by 2025. In 2021 there were a record 8,607 registrations- up from 6,177 for 2019, the last pre-COVID full year, and the highest annual registrations since the 2006 figure of 8,306.

In 2021, 6,955 registrations were in craft apprenticeships, and largely in the construction sector, which will be vital for realising the ambition set out in Housing for All. There were 1,652 registrations on the newer, post-2016 programmes. At the end of 2021, the overall apprentice population was 24,212.

A new employer grant of €2,000 was introduced in Budget 2022. It will encourage more employers to engage with a wider range of apprenticeships and help to encourage the development of new programmes. It also means that, for the first time, all employers will receive a level of support towards the cost of apprentice training.

The new National Apprenticeship Office will deliver additional practical supports and information for employers and apprentices seeking to engage with apprenticeship. Dr Mary-Liz Trant, who has extensive experience in education and training, has been appointed as the first Director of the Office. She is working with colleagues in the HEA, the Department, SOLAS and QQI to finalise the Office’s work programme for 2022.

The National Apprenticeship Alliance is also being established, to represent all apprenticeship stakeholders and to help steer the next phase of apprenticeship development.

A Working Group representing Government Departments and key agencies and public service bodies is advancing a commitment to have 750 public service-wide apprentice registrations per annum by 2025. The Group will develop a plan on public service recruitment by summer 2022, based on surveying organisations in relation to their skills needs.

These actions and achievements to date provide a very strong foundation to continued progress this year to the successful implementation of the Action Plan.