Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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170. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the budget allocation for the National Apprentice Office for 2022; the total number of employees currently; the anticipated number of employees when the Office is fully set up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31097/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Significant progress is being made in realising the ambition for apprenticeship set out in the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 published in April last year.  The further development and mainstreaming of apprenticeship in Ireland through the creation of a single unified apprenticeship system has a key role to play in meeting Ireland's skill needs in a manner which presents a valued proposition for apprentices and employers alike.

Key to the delivery of the ambition set out in the Action Plan is a new organisational architecture, involving the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and National Apprenticeship Alliance (NAA). The Office will have responsibility for all aspects of the management, oversight and development of the apprenticeship system and for implementing the Action Plan. Under the Action Plan the NAO will exercise on a shared and conjoint basis the relevant legislative and funding functions of SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

The new National Apprenticeship Office will deliver additional practical supports and information for employers and apprentices seeking to engage with apprenticeship. Dr Mary-Liz Trant, who has extensive senior experience in education and training, has been appointed as the first Director of the Office.

The NAO Director is currently providing the leadership required to address the next stage of the NAO’s development, including finalising a work programme for 2022, staffing allocations and the development and implementation of solid governance and financial arrangements, aligned with the Action Plan, in consultation with SOLAS, the HEA, my Department and other key partners. A sum of €1 million has been allocated in Budget 2022 for the first year of the NAO’s operation.

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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171. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices working across the public sector; what percentage this represents out of the total number of registered apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31098/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices working across commercial and non-commercial semi-State companies; the percentage this has on the total number of registered apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31099/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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173. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices employed at each semi-State organisations in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31100/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 172 and 173 together.

At the end of last year, the apprentice population was 24,212 and there were approximately 255 apprentices registered with public service employers such as the Civil Service, the Defence forces and Local Authorities.

These apprentices were registered across over 20 different apprenticeship programmes in areas as diverse as cybersecurity, accounting technician, recruitment, heavy vehicle mechanics and stonecutting and stonemasonry. This number grew to 779 apprentices i.e. almost 3% of the apprentice population at that time when commercial and non-commercial semi-state organisations are included. A breakdown of the number of apprentices employed across the public sector at the end of 2021 is attached.

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. This represents in excess of a seven-fold increase on 2020 registrations and will support a long-term goal of 7% of the apprentice population being employed by public service employers.

Whilst it is not yet determined where the apprenticeship roles are best located, the diversity of the public service provides a wide basis for involvement with the range of existing apprenticeships and those programmes in development. Apprenticeship provides an opportunity to target and widen the recruitment pool for both generalist and specialist roles within the public service.

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

- Several general and sector-focused information sessions on apprenticeship were held late last year.

- A Working Group has been established, representing Government Departments and agencies and local authorities, to develop a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan by summer 2022. The Group’s work is based on surveying over 100 organisations in relation to their skills needs.

- There is also engagement with the HSE and Department of Health in relation to a commitment in the Action Plan to explore a healthcare assistant apprenticeship programme for the HSE and the options for how this might be piloted.

The results of the survey of public service organisations have now been analysed and a Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan, informed by the survey results, is being drafted. It is intended to submit the draft for Cabinet approval before the summer recess.