Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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89. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he and his Department have identified particular requirements in terms of apprenticeships or higher qualifications in education throughout the country to meet such requirements in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12729/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship responses in their sector. It is open to any industry that wishes to explore such options to bring forward a proposal. Applications for new apprenticeship development are open on an ongoing basis, allowing all employers to progress the development of programmes in response to emerging skills needs on an as-needed basis.

Expanding apprenticeship across all sectors of the economy has widened its impact in areas of skills shortage such as Engineering, Technology Skills, Logistics and FinTech.

There are currently 62 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 37 programmes introduced since 2016. Despite the pandemic, eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021: Arboriculture, Equipment Systems Engineer, Healthcare Assistant, Principal Engineer – Professional Doctorate, Recruitment Executive, Sales, Scaffolding, and Supply Chain Associate.

A further three programmes progressed during this time and are close to launch: Wind Turbine Maintenance, Bar Manager, Transport Operations and Commercial Driving.

Currently, there are 17 additional programmes being developed across agriculture, construction, engineering, equine, finance, horticulture, hospitality and food, ICT and logistics. A number of other potential apprenticeships are at an exploratory stage, in sectors such as health, beauty, environmental, engineering, ICT and finance. 

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship more accessible to employers and learners, to achieve a target of 10,000 annual registrations across a wide range of programmes by 2025. 

Meeting these targets requires an apprenticeship system that is flexible and responsive, provides a strong value proposition for employers and potential apprentices, is attractive and easy to engage with, and which delivers high standards and sought after qualifications.

We have made important progress to date. Last year saw a record 8,607 registrations- up from 6,177 for 2019, the last pre-COVID full year, and the highest annual figure since 2006, which saw 8,306 registrations. This is a strong foundation on which to build as we advance delivery of the Action Plan, in order to embedding apprenticeship as a preferred route to skills development.