Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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1734. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans his Department has to provide paid apprenticeships to those working in the culinary arts while being trained in a business setting. [2022/25]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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Apprentices are primarily employees and all 77 apprenticeship programmes currently available 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.

The Government is seeking to boost the opportunities available to young people by focusing on apprenticeships and skills and is committed to supporting the growth of apprenticeship programmes.

Apprenticeship development is industry-led with the goal of aligning skills with workforce needs. New apprenticeship programmes are developed by the industry sector in question via a consortium of partners including an education provider. Proposals for such programmes progress through a 10-step process overseen by the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) in conjunction with the National Apprenticeship Alliance.

Currently, there are three culinary apprenticeship programmes available – Commis Chef, Chef de Partie and Sous Chef.