Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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304. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of craft apprentices currently waiting to undertake phase 2, 4 and 6 off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23350/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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A craft apprenticeship takes 48 months to complete. This is based on progression through off-the-job training phases within training capacity and does not reflect delays due to deferring training, assessment delays or other individual circumstances.

Currently, two craft apprenticeships out of 25 total craft programmes have completion times significantly over 48 months, and those are Electrical Instrumentation at 59 months, and Pipe-fitting at 58 months. The National Apprenticeship Office are focusing on speeding up the delivery of training for those programmes.

As soon as an apprentice enters into phase 2, 4, or 6 off-the-job training they become classed as "waiting for training". Because an apprentice can enter their off-the-job training phase at any time of the year, waiting times for that training can vary depending on where an apprentice is on their own learning path and how that ties in with the Education and Training Board class start dates and Technological University academic start cycles of September, January and April. Low uptake on courses can also lead to delays in scheduling training until class size requirements are met.

In April 2024, a total of 7,295 craft apprentices are waiting to undertake off-the-job training with 5,601 Phase 2 apprentices, 1,360 Phase 4 apprentices and 334 Phase 6 apprentices.

A normal waiting time for phase 2 off-the-job training is 3 to 6 months. In April 2024, 2,976 Phase 2 apprentices are waiting 6 months or longer.

Actions being taken to achieve the reduction of craft apprentice training wait times include a targeted recruitment campaign for instructors and ETBs being mandated to deliver three intakes of training per workshop per year. Final year apprentices also continue to be fast tracked to complete their qualification.

It my priority that progress is sustained in 2024 in achieving further reductions in training delays.