Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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621. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of applicants to the commis chef apprenticeship level 6 programme since it was launched to date by education and training board; the number that have dropped out of the programme on an annual basis; and the number that successfully completed the course. [38974/22]

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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622. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount expended on the commis chef apprenticeship level 6 programme since it launched to date in 2022. [38975/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 621 and 622 together.

The Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme was established by lead industry stakeholders such as the Irish Hotels Federation and the Restaurants Association of Ireland. It is a two year programme and successful apprentices become a fully qualified Commis chef, with a QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Culinary Arts.

The numbers registered for the programme from 2017 to this year are as follows:

- 2017 –25 apprentices registered

- 2018 - 112 apprentices registered

- 2019 -62apprentices registered

- 2020 -16apprentices registered

- 2021 -75apprentices registered

- 2022 -43 apprentices registered to date as of June

Registrations were impacted by the pandemic in 2020 and the associated shutdown of educational and training facilities.

However, registrations rebounded strongly in 2021 supported by the Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme exceeding the numbers registered pre-pandemic.

Numbers in 2022 indicate that the recovery in apprentice registrations is continuing, with 43 new registrations in the first half of the year.

Regarding the number that have dropped out of the programme on an annual basis, the below table provided by SOLAS shows the numbers of apprentices who left the programme, successfully completed the programme and finished unsuccessfully since it was established.

The hospitality and education sectors were very badly affected by Covid and this had an effect on apprentices in the sector.

Regarding the amount expended on the Commis chef apprenticeship level 6 programme since it launched to date in 2022, this information has been requested from SOLAS and will be sent on to the Deputy as soon as it is available.