Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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469. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the problems with the FÁS apprenticeship programme including delays of over one year in apprentices receiving their qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36271/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The backdrop to current wait-lists for essential practical training for craft apprentices is the extended shutdown of on-site learning activity from March 2020. The closure of education and training facilities in response to the Covid pandemic precluded access to off-the-job training. The very welcome growth in registrations has compounded these pressures.

Implementation of a major response plan to address the waitlists is well advanced. In order to introduce additional capacity, Capital funding of €20m was provided in 2020 to extend and upgrade facilities. Additional funding of €17m has been provided to SOLAS and the HEA to underpin the plan to reduce backlogs, €6 million of which is being invested in additional instructors, with over 100 additional posts approved.

More than 8,400 apprentices, over 70% of those delayed by Covid-19, have now progressed. This includes over 700 final year apprentices who have been fast-tracked to complete their qualification. Regarding delays in apprentices receiving their qualification,

My Departments officials have engaged with SOLAS on this matter and have been informed that once the apprentice completes all phases successfully, the apprentice details go forward to Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) for certification.

There should be no delays as the certificate and craft apprenticeship card are processed by QQI and the relevant printing provider. The apprentice certificate and craft card are forwarded to the individual Education and Training Board (ETB) locations for distribution to apprentices. To note, QQI have a certificate run every two months, commencing in February each year.