Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

545. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform if his Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under his remit run apprenticeship programmes or are directly engaged in the training of apprentices; if so, the number of apprentices involved; the specialities in which they are being trained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19589/22]

Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In conjunction with FastTrack into Information Technology (FIT) and the City of Dublin Education and Training Board (CDETB), my Department led the establishment of a two year, full-time Pilot ICT Apprenticeship Programme for the Civil Service that ran from 2019 to 2021.  This saw the recruitment of 34 ICT apprentices across 11 Civil Service organisations, including six employed in my Department, on the Software Development and Network Engineer apprenticeships. 

Of the 34 who commenced the programme in 2019, 24 apprentices successfully completed the programme and were awarded their Level 6 NFQ Award.  In addition, 23 opted to compete in a confined recruitment competition undertaken by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in 2021, and were successful in being appointed to permanent positions as Executive Officer ICT Specialists and are now working in 9 Civil Service organisations.The use of ICT apprenticeships has successfully demonstrated the benefits of exploring alternative pathways for recruitment to the Civil Service and my Department is working with relevant stakeholders to scope a new ICT apprenticeship intake towards the end of this year.

A number of the bodies under the aegis of my Department also participate in a number of apprenticeship programmes:

Officials from my Department are working closely with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to scope the potential for the expansion of apprenticeships within the Civil Service in the context of the planned development of a Public Sector Apprenticeship Plan as a key action under the National Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2021-2025.