Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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543. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if any craft apprentices had their off-site training moved online completely or in part; if so, the details of same as a percentage of course learning moved online in each apprentice type; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27864/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to apprentices who had their off the job training moved online is presently being compiled by Solas. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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544. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of staff in SOLAS tasked with communicating with apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27865/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of staff in SOLAS tasked with communicating with apprentices is presently being compiled. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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545. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of apprentices that have experienced delays in getting paid off the job allowances after starting training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27950/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Officials in my Department have engaged with colleagues in Education Shared Business Services (ESBS). ESBS has advised that all apprentice payments are made in accordance with the Payment Processing Calendars. 

This list of fortnightly payment dates can be accessed directly by apprentices via the SOLAS Generation Apprenticeship website, specifically at: apprenticeship.ie/news-events/news/off-the-job-training-payments-allowances-for-craft-apprentices.

The generation of payments to apprentices is reliant on the successful completion of a number of detailed processes between partners, with all deadlines outlined in the Payment Processing Calendars. All queries received from ETBs in relation to payments are tracked until they are fully resolved.  Whilst officials in the Department of Education (under which ESBS operates) are not aware of many delays in apprentice payments, they are available to investigate specific queries and can be contacted directly at: support@appsandotherlearners.freshdesk.com.

In addition, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for ETBs and a Query Resolution document is available to ETBs. This document is updated regularly, with the most recent version published in November 2021. It outlines in more detail the processes in place from when an apprentice is first placed on the SOLAS registration system to when they are paid on the payment system, together with a number of FAQ.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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546. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider moving the apprentice allowance to be paid on a weekly basis in order to more closely align with standard pay practices in the trades; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27951/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Officials in my Department have engaged with colleagues in Education Shared Business Services (ESBS), which operates under the remit of the Department of Education. ESBS has advised that the Department of Education was required to implement a payroll system which was fully compliant with Revenue requirements early in 2020.  The Department used a newly developed shared payroll solution for ETBs as the basis for the new standardised fortnightly payments system for Apprentices. This was the only practical solution to meet the exacting timeframe and to ensure high-quality service provision to both apprentices and ETB staff.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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547. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices in the system with dependents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27952/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS.

Officials in my Department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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548. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the percentage of apprentices in the total construction labour force from 2004 to date in 2022, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27953/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The information requested by the Deputy in relation to this issue has been requested from SOLAS.

Officials in my Department are engaging with SOLAS to confirm the position and the details will be communicated to the Deputy  as soon as possible.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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549. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will confirm that his Department has no plans to provide phase four or phase six apprentice training during the summer of 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27954/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeship off-the-job training is provided by SOLAS collaborating providers across Further and Higher Education. The Education and Training Boards (ETBs) deliver off-the-job training for Phase 2 continuously throughout the year. With regard to Phases 4 and 6, SOLAS is currently working with colleagues in the HEA regarding provision in 2023

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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550. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a scheme exists for apprentices in the upholstery industry at present; if so, if he will provide details of same; if not, if this is an area that is being looked at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27955/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeship is a demand driven educational and training programme which aims to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. The development of new apprenticeships is employer-led, with consortia comprising employer groups and educational providers coming together to identify a skills need and appropriate apprenticeship response in their sector. There is no apprenticeship for the upholstery industry at present and officials in my Department are not aware of any such apprenticeship in development or being considered.

A defined process and structure for employers to become engaged in the apprenticeship process is in place. It is open to any industry that wishes to explore options for developing an apprenticeship to bring a proposal forward.  The SOLAS Guidance Document for Submitting an Initial Proposal for a New National Apprenticeship together with their Handbook on Developing a National Apprenticeship provide an overview of the key features of new apprenticeships, including sectoral engagement and collaboration among enterprises and other stakeholders in the relevant industry.  These publications are available on www.apprenticeship.ie.

There are currently 65 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 40 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.

In recent months, three further programmes have been launched: Bar Manager, Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician and Transport Operations & Commercial Driving.