Written answers
Thursday, 1 June 2023
Department of Education and Skills
Apprenticeship Programmes
James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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124. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the three new farming apprenticeships launched in September 2022; the uptake of places on these apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26677/23]
Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Until recently there has been a long-standing legislative impediment to farming apprenticeships under the Industrial Training Act, 1967, wherein it was stated that the development of apprenticeship programmes in “an activity of agriculture, horticulture or fishing which is an activity of primary production, or any activity of a professional occupation” was prohibited.
I am delighted to advise the Deputy that under the Higher Education Authority Bill, 2022 which has recently been approved by the Oireachtas, I have ensured that this legislative barrier to the establishment of apprenticeship programmes for these occupations has been removed. This broadens the scope to develop and implement apprenticeship programmes in these important areas where there are significant opportunities to build the skills of the workforce.
A number of Apprenticeships are due to be launched under the family Agriculture and Horticulture. The Sportsturf Management level 6 apprenticeship has been launched last week and registrations opened on 24 May. It is expected apprentices will commence the programme in September 2023.
Three further apprenticeship programmes are due to launch shortly with anticipated starts of September/October this year;
- Farm Manager L7
- Farm Technician L6
- Horticulture L6
Further details of the programmes, including locations where the training will be provided, will be available once the validation and legislative processes are finalised.
These new apprenticeships, which will have off-the-job training delivered through online or blended learning, provide a significant opportunity for widening of access to apprenticeship for rural businesses and learners and will play a very important role in ensuring apprenticeship provision has a strong regional dimension. I am very grateful for all the work of all the stakeholders involved in bringing the apprenticeship model into one of the most important sectors of the economy.
Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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125. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the action he has taken to date in increasing apprenticeship places, as well as their starting remuneration; his upcoming plans in this sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26603/23]
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 2021-2025sets a target of 10,000 apprentice registrations per annum by 2025. 2022 saw 8,286 new apprenticeship registrations an increase of 34% on the pre-Covid figure in 2019. 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.
As part of a response to this dual challenge, SOLAS has worked with ETBs to increase training capacity via capital development, additional instructors, and innovative delivery models.
This has been facilitated by significant Government investment to allow for additional capacity across the system. This includes €12m during the pandemic to support additional classes and teaching capacity to ameliorate Covid-19 measures, over €17m in 2022 for increased capital investment, €6m for measures including additional instructors, and in 2023, additional funding of €30m for apprenticeship growth.
This fund will support up to 5,000 additional training places in 2023 across both Further and Higher education sectors and support the continuing growth of apprenticeships with a forecast of almost 9,000 registrations in 2023 in line with the Governments Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2021-2025. The majority (over 6500) will be on craft programmes. This will provide critical support to the delivery of Government goals under Housing for All, climate action and retrofitting.
Work continues to develop additional capacity allocation across further and higher education and these places will continue to come on stream in 2023.
Approximately 80 new instructor posts were approved across June-Oct 2021 for the three largest apprenticeship programmes: Electrical, Plumbing, and Carpentry & Joinery.
In 2022, the Minister announced the roll-out of €17.2 million in capital funding to respond to the growing demand for apprenticeships, and ensure the required increased capacity will be delivered. This builds on the €20 million Apprenticeship Capital Fund investment in 2021 across both the further and higher education sectors. The funding includes:
- The development of hubs dedicated to electrical training for the next three years.
- Expansion of electrical, plumbing, and carpentry programmes across FE & HE
- The development of essential craft apprenticeship training facilities at Kilkenny and Carlow ETB and in Donegal.
- A call for additional phase 2 capacity in craft programmes that include carpentry, plumbing, and refrigeration.
- Expansion of electrical apprenticeships in ATU Donegal and MTU Kerry
Apprentices are primarily employees and all of the 67 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 craft apprenticeship programmes, the minimum rates of pay are agreed through legally binding Sectoral Employment Orders (Construction Sector and Mechanical Engineering Building Services Contracting Sector) or through agreement within the relevant sector.
Whilst on that basis any review of rates is a matter for the appropriate industrial relations structures, the Department recognises that there is increasing pressure on workers as a result of inflation and other cost of living factors. Equally, it is important that apprenticeship is a valued and valuable option for employers and prospective apprentices. Consequently, the Department is engaging with partners to assess how these structures could best be informed of apprenticeship considerations. This is ongoing and the Department is committed to concluding the process as soon as possible.
Separately, as part of Budget 2023 the Government introduced a cost-of-living package for students. This included a once-off reduction of up to 33% in the contribution fee for apprentices and additional funding for social inclusion measures in apprenticeship, such as a bursary for apprentices from under-represented groups.
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