Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1026. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the situation which many apprentices find themselves in, whereby due to Covid-19 restrictions, off-the-job training phases were cancelled, leaving many without a definitive date for qualification, despite having spent more than four years in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63435/22]

Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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1027. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to deal with the backlog in off-the-job training phases for apprentices which were cancelled due to Covid restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63436/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1026 and 1027 together.

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.

Between early 2020 and 2021, the capacity for off-the-job training was severely impacted by the Covid-19 public health measures. Over that period, off-the-job training capacity was reduced to zero for the majority of the time, and less than 50% for other periods. The impact of this was to create a surge in the waiting lists that normally ran at approximately 3,619 as of October 2019 pre-pandemic, reaching a peak of over 11,000 by August 2021.

Considering the context of the Covid-19 public health measures, the impact on capacity and intake over the immediate emergency period of 2020/21, as well as the post-emergency period in 2022 where the system was not only in “restart” mode but also trying to make up for ground lost during the pandemic, it becomes clear how and why some apprentices who were impacted over that period will ultimately take extended training time to complete their apprenticeships.

Based on end of December monthly figures, there are currently 4,960 apprentices waiting longer than expected to access off the job training.

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.

My officials are in continuous engagement with SOLAS, the HEA, and other partners. As strong registrations on craft programmes continue, SOLAS are working, and will continue to work, to provide further places to address high numbers of apprentices needing off-the-job places.