Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

277. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a location (details supplied) of an apprenticeship can be changed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3777/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ensure all eligible apprentices are offered a training place, the SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling management system is designed to call apprentices by apprenticeship and training phase, on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available Education and Training Board, Institute of Technology, or Technological University.

Whilst every effort is made to eliminate unnecessary travel, unfortunately for some apprentices it is impossible to avoid having to attend training facilities that are not convenient to their locality. In the case of some apprenticeships it is not cost effective to have multiple off-the-job training locations.

In the situation where apprentices are required to move from their current place of residence to new paid accommodation to take up an offer of a training place, they are entitled to make an application for an accommodation allowance for the duration of the course. Alternatively, they can apply for a travel allowance. All apprentices are advised of the SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling process at their mandatory Apprenticeship Induction briefings.

Under the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. While it would not be appropriate for me, as Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, to intervene in any individual case, I have asked SOLAS to look into the matter and respond directly.