John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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104. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the future farming apprenticeships which he plans to announce in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51225/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy may be aware, up to now, there has been a long-standing legislative impediment to farming apprenticeships. This reflected the fact that under the Industrial Training Act, 1967, the development of apprenticeship programmes in “an activity of agriculture, horticulture or fishing which is an activity of primary production, or any activity of a professional occupation” was prohibited.

This statutory provision ruled out the scope to develop and implement apprenticeship programmes in these important areas where there are significant opportunities to build the skills of the workforce.

I am delighted to advise the Deputy that under the Higher Education Authority Bill, 2022 which has recently been approved by the Oireachtas, I have ensured that this legislative barrier to the establishment of apprenticeship programmes for these occupations has been removed.

In advance and in anticipation of this legislative change, apprenticeship consortia had commenced the development of the following programmes: Farm Manager, Farm Technician and Advanced Horticulture.

Development work on the three apprenticeship programmes is ongoing and programme documentation has been submitted to QQI to progress through the validation process. Further details of the programmes, including locations where the training will be available once the validation and legislative processes are finalised.

These new apprenticeships, many of which have off-the-job training delivered through online or blended learning, provides a significant opportunity for widening of access to apprenticeship for rural businesses and learners and will play a very important role in ensuring apprenticeship provision has a strong regional dimension. I am very grateful for all the work of all the stakeholders involved in bringing the apprenticeship model into one of the most important sectors of the economy.