Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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101. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the increase in the number of apprentices and the number of apprenticeships since 2020; the progress of the national apprenticeship scheme office; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12703/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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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. 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. Under the Plan there will be an increase in online visibility of apprenticeship engagement and apprenticeship development processes for employers/sectors who wish to assess the potential for new apprenticeship development.

The Action Plan sets 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, showing the high degree of interest in this career option amongst both employers and potential apprentices.

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.

There are currently 62 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 37 programmes introduced since 2016. Eight new programmes were launched over 2020 and 2021, despite the pandemic; Arboriculture, Equipment Systems Engineer, Healthcare Assistant, Principal Engineer – Professional Doctorate, Recruitment Executive, Sales, Scaffolding , Supply Chain Associate. A further three programmes are close to launch; Wind Turbine Maintenance, Bar Manager, Transport Operations and Commercial Driving.

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.

Key to the delivery of the ambition set out in the Action Plan is a new organisational architecture, involving a National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA). The Office will have responsibility for all aspects of the management, oversight and development of the apprenticeship system and for implementing the Action Plan. Under the Action Plan the NAO will exercise on a shared and conjoint basis the relevant functions of SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

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.

The NAO Director is currently providing the leadership required to address the next stage of the NAO’s development, including finalising a work programme for 2022, staffing allocations and the development and implementation of solid governance and financial arrangements, aligned with the Action Plan. This is being done in consultation with SOLAS, the HEA, my Department and other key partners and €1 million has been allocated in Budget 2022 for the first year of the NAO’s operation.