Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if an update will be provided on which local authorities offer apprenticeship programmes; if there are plans to support the expansion of the programme specifically in local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12714/22]

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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112. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of local authorities that offer apprentice programmes; the detail of the programs; the progress that has been made to roll-out this out nationally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12869/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 112 together.

A number of local authorities throughout the country employ apprentices, with in the region of 50 apprentices currently employed by these bodies. The majority of the apprentices are employed in craft trades such as plumbing, carpentry and joinery, and electrical. A number of the apprentices are also employed in consortia programmes such as accounting technician and cybersecurity.

A key commitment of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 is to grow the number of apprenticeship registrations across the public service, including local authorities, to reach 750 annual registrations by 2025.

My Department’s officials have undertaken a numbers of actions in order to make progress towards achieving this commitment:

1. A number of general and sector-focussed information sessions on apprenticeship were held, including one for local authorities.
2. A Working Group has been established, representing Government Departments and local authorities, to develop a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan by summer 2022.
3. More specifically, there has been extensive bilateral engagement with the LGMA, to assist with surveying local authorities in relation to their skills needs.