Duncan Smith (Dublin Fingal, Labour)
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524. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on clearance of Covid-related backlog and associated delays in processing new registrations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8642/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprenticeships are employer-led demand-driven programmes that develop the skills of an apprentice in order to meet the labour market needs. The number of new apprenticeship registrations is, therefore, primarily determined by the level of recruitment of apprentices by employers. The “Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025” sets a target of 10,000 apprentice registrations per annum by 2025. 2021 figures showed a total of 8,607 registrations – an increase of 40% on figures for 2019 (the last full pre-Covid year). Overall, the broader range of apprenticeship offerings and a growth in registrations linked to the re-opening of the economy after the pandemic created an apprentice population of 24,212 by the end of 2021. Strong registrations continued in 2022, with 8,286 registrations and a population of 26,325 at year end. This strong growth in apprenticeship training is very welcome and indeed essential to meeting priority skills needs. The apprenticeship system has, however, been engaging with meeting this greatly increased demand while recovering from the impact of the extended closures of the training system during Covid. These closures created increased waiting lists for off-the-job training phases of craft apprenticeships. There will always be a degree of waiting, due to factors such as term commencement dates in higher education institutions. However, from a usual number of some 3,600 apprentices waiting for placements, there are currently 4,802 apprentices waiting longer than 6 months to access off the job training. This has fallen from 11,200 in 2021. With the commitment of a further €17.2m in capital investment into 2023, increased capacity will continue to be provided and further progress made in reducing waiting lists as much as possible, with those waiting longest being prioritised for placements.