Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Financial challenges can be a key barrier to employer participation in apprenticeship. An annual grant of €2,000 is provided for employers who employ apprentices in consortia led apprenticeships that have been established since 2016 and which do not attract payment of off-the-job training allowances. This means that employers with apprentices on two-year programmes are eligible for a payment of €4,000 over the duration of the programme, and employers with apprentices on four-year apprenticeships are eligible for a payment of €8,000.

For craft apprenticeship programmes in place before 2016, apprentices are paid a training allowance by the State while they are on off-the-job training. The allowance varies based on the phase of training and the industry or sector of the apprenticeship programme. On average the allowance is approximately €5,000 per year or approximately €20,000 over a four-year apprenticeship programme. The rate is set and reviewed periodically by the State following consultation with social partner representatives and further details are available on the Generation Apprenticeship website.

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 commits to consolidate the pre 2016 and post 2016 systems of apprenticeship into a single system. This would see greater alignment of the development, review, governance and funding arrangements for all apprenticeship programmes.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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SOLAS is undertaking an independent evaluation of the ‘Specialist Training Provision for People with Disabilities’ programme. Under this programme, the 16 Education and Training Boards contract Specialist Training Providers (STPs) to offer vocational training programmes, in specific settings, for persons with disabilities. The basis for this provision is that some people with disabilities have needs that may not be catered for through non-specialist vocational training provision. STPs provide intensive, tailored training and supports. Specialist Training Provision aims to meet additional needs relating to access and training duration and support.

The purpose of the evaluation is to generate evidence-based conclusions and propose recommendations about the quality, effectiveness, on-going relevance and overall value of vocational training that is currently delivered by STPs and the integration of this training within the wider further education and training provision by ETBs.

While there has been some delays, SOLAS expects the evaluation to conclude in the coming weeks.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Specialist Training Providers (STPs) are significant partners in assisting us address the identified training needs of people with disabilities who are experiencing exclusion and labour market disadvantage in the form of vocational training programmes. The National Learning Network (NLN) is the largest STP and is a key stakeholder under the FET Strategy. The NLN delivers personalised education, training and development opportunities for people with disabilities on behalf of the ETBs. SOLAS allocates funding on an annual basis to ETBs, who in turn provide funding to the NLN and other STPs under the Specialist Training Programme. While the funding allocation for STPs for 2024 has yet to be finalised, the allocation is expected to be similar to the 2023 allocation, which was some €40m.