Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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1827. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to increase the percentage rates of pay for apprentices to ensure that they begin on minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17960/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 66 available apprenticeships are undertaken under a contract of employment. For the majority of apprenticeships, the rate of pay is agreed between the apprentice and the employer with the employer paying the apprentice during both on-the-job and off-the-job training elements of the apprenticeship.

For the 25 craft apprenticeship programmes, the minimum rates of pay applying under the employment contract are either agreed within the relevant sector, or are set out in legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders recommended by the Labour Court.

Whilst any review of the rates payable is a matter for negotiation and agreement under the appropriate industrial relations structures in place, I am aware that some issues have been raised in relation to the pay of some apprentices. In that regard, I am engaging with partners to hear their views, including those of worker representative and employers.