Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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507. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices working across the public sector; the percentage this is of the total number of registered apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57709/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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508. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices employed across the public sector in each of the years since 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57710/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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513. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices employed by each local authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57715/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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514. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices employed by each State and semi-State body; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57716/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 507, 508, 513 and 514 together.

The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of apprentices employed by each State and semi-State body; the number of apprentices employed by each local authority; the number of apprentices that have been employed across the public sector in each of the years since 2011 and the number of apprentices working across the public sector; the percentage that this has on the total number of registered apprentices, is 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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509. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of registered apprentices; the number of registered craft apprentices; the number of craft apprentices who have been registered for more than two or four years in the cases of those registered on two-year apprenticeships, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57711/22]

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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512. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of apprentices on each programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57714/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 512 together.

The number of registered apprentices on each programme, including craft apprentices, as per the end of October in tabular form is set out at the link. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of craft apprentices who have been registered for over two or four years, in the cases of those registered on two-year apprenticeships is being compiled by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Apprentice Numbers

Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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511. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of craft apprentices waiting to access off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57713/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeships are employer led demand driven educational and training programmes that aim to develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the needs of industry and the labour market. As apprentices are employees, the demand for and number of apprentices is primarily dictated by the employers in any area or sector.

As per the end of October 4,937 apprentices were waiting over six months to access off-the-job training. SOLAS are working to provide further places across the system to address the high numbers of apprentices who need to undertake their off-the-job learning phases. With the commitment of a further €17.2m in capital investment into 2023, this need for increased capacity continues to be actively managed. The funding means that SOLAS are able to continue the progress already made to address those programmes with the highest numbers of apprentices waiting to be placed.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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515. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which SOLAS and the ETBs support an organisation (details supplied) to develop a craft apprentice programme that will help generate the next generation of woodturners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57800/22]

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. Officials in my Department are not aware of any apprenticeship in woodturning 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 explanation of the process and 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 66 apprenticeship programmes on offer: 25 craft programmes and 41 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, four further programmes have been launched: Bar Manager, Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician, Transport Operations & Commercial Driving and Cybersecurity Practitioner.