Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1222. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the training capacity of each college of further education per apprenticeship type and the total increase since 2019, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20912/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The following table collated by SOLAS shows the phase 2 capacity figures of each college of further education per apprenticeship type and the total increase since 2019 The phase 2 capacity figures presented in the attached document are based on the year the class commenced. For example, the figure for year 2019 is the capacity of the classes that started in 2019 although some classes would have completion dates in 2020 and so on.

From the data presented, 2020 and 2021 were severely impacted with the implementation of COVID restrictions. Recovery was from September 2021 when classes were scheduled at full capacity (14-16 per class) whereas prior to this they had been scheduled based on 7-8 per class to comply with public health advice. Expansion of the apprenticeship system is continuing in 2022 .

Capacity by ETB per Trade for Years 2019 - 2022 (ytd)

Note: Classes may start in one year and finish in the following year. When reading the table above, the capacities are taken on the basis of the year that each class started.