Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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601. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of carpentry apprenticeships run by individual education and training boards across the country; his plans to include this skill in the education and training boards that do not currently run carpentry apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9240/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes, which aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market.  As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector. 

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021 – 2025 requires that apprenticeship intake will grow to 10,000 annual registrations by 2025.

Apprenticeship registrations in 2021 were the highest they have been since 2007, with 8,607 apprentices employed on 62 programmes. The current apprentice population is over 24,000, the highest it has been since 2009. Of last year’s registrations, 6,955 were in craft apprenticeship programmes, with over 60% of these in the Electrical, Plumbing and Carpentry and Joinery crafts.

Phase 2 off-the-job training for carpentry and joinery is delivered by Education and Training Boards in the 13 locations nationwide including 3 locations in Dublin.  Attached is a table with all the current locations.

Also the deputy should note that there has been a substantial increase in provision in the area of 40% in Carpentry and Joinery over the past year. Expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022, to include investment in workshops and staff.