Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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219. To ask the Taoiseach and Minister for Defence to outline the internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes run by his Department and public bodies under the aegis of his Department. [35481/23]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Programme for Government commits to growing the number of apprenticeships under the Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2021 – 2025. My Department is currently in the process of implementing an apprenticeship programme for eight civilian apprentices in the Defence Forces. Civilian apprenticeships provide participants with the opportunity to gain practical, on-the-job experience and skills along with a qualification which is on the National Framework of Qualifications and is recognised internationally.

Neither my Department, nor any public bodies under its aegis, run any internships or graduate schemes. At present, my department employs one officer (EO) through the ICT Apprenticeship Scheme which is run by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Additionally, my Department has committed to participating in the Willing, Able, Mentoring programme (WAM). WAM is a full-time, paid, mentored work placement for graduates with disabilities, and is run by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.