Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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990. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her 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 she will make a statement on the matter. [19591/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department does not run apprenticeship programmes  nor is it directly engaged in the training of apprentices.  There are  four statutory bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Social Protection: The Citizens Information Board, The Pensions Authority, The Pensions Council and the Social Welfare Tribunal.  They have been contacted and all have indicated that they do not run apprenticeship programmes.

My department does facilitate annual internships, as part of the Department's academic internship programmes, within the ICT and the business intelligence units.  The initial selection process is conducted by the relevant business areas in consultation with the appropriate third level institutions. Internships are offered for a fixed term and interns are paid the first point of the Executive Officer salary scale for the duration of their internship.  However, this is not an apprenticeship.

The following table outlines the internships that were approved in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

My Department actively works to promote and recruit for apprenticeship programmes in the labour market through the work of Intreo office case officers.  In addition, JobsIreland.ie, the public employment service of the department, has an information page for those interested in providing and participating on apprenticeship programme(s).  Apprenticeship vacancies are advertised on JobsIreland.ie and the platform also contains a link www.apprenticeship.ie which brings the user to the ‘Generation Apprenticeship’ page with all relevant information pertaining to Apprenticeships. 

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.