Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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361. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills what plans he is putting in place to resolve delays in completion of pipefitting apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51674/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Currently, Phase 2 Pipefitting training is delivered in Cork Education and Training Board (ETB) and Louth and Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB) by four instructors.

As the Coordinating Providers for the apprenticeship, the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and SOLAS are actively engaging with the Collaborating Providers and employers of pipefitting apprentices to support increased capacity in the Pipefitting Apprenticeship going forward. It is envisioned that an increase in the number of Pipefitting Instructors will form part of this response.

The current strength of the construction sector is driving increased demand on the apprenticeship system. It is also adversely impacting on the system's ability to recruit additional instructors required to meet apprenticeship training needs. A national recruitment campaign for instructors is planned. This campaign, and a third intake of apprentices each year, will be central in ETBs delivery of additional capacity.

There is a crucial requirement to align training capacity in ETBs with the continued strong demand for apprenticeships, with particular focus on apprenticeships linked to the construction sector. My Department is working closely with SOLAS and the ETBs to continue to increase training capacity, from 13,000 in 2022 to over 16,000 places in 2024 - an increase approaching 25%.

SOLAS, the NAO and the ETBs, together with staff representatives, are continuing to work intensively with my Department to deliver the required additional apprenticeship training capacity to secure the reductions in waiting time, in particular for phase 2 training.