John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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1059. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if consideration will be given to allowing Phase 2 apprentice electricians from Waterford to complete their training in Waterford, rather than being required to attend a course in Limerick; and if full cost of travel and accommodation will be paid to cover the financial hardship faced by those required to travel will be taken into account. [16734/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As far as possible, apprentices are scheduled to the nearest available training location relative to their home location on the day of scheduling. However, as apprenticeship is a national programme not all programmes can be made available in every location. Apprentices are informed at registration that this may necessitate the requirement to travel to other counties. All craft programmes follow the same scheduling process to ensure equity of service. If a placement is not available near an apprentice’s home location, they will be called to the next nearest available location.

An apprentice may decline a scheduling call to a particular location on up to 3 occasions and be returned to the national waiting list for future scheduling. The national waiting list is maintained by SOLAS and apprentices are placed on phase 2 by order of date of registration in order to ensure minimum wait times.

Once registered apprentices are assigned an Authorised Officer at the Education and Training Board where they are registered. The Authorised Officer is the person best placed to assist the apprentice on their training journey, including if they wish to decline a scheduling call to a particular location.

Where a craft apprentice is travelling out of their home region, an accommodation allowance is made available to them. Craft apprentices are also entitled to supplementary allowances for travel and meals. Either an accommodation allowance or a travel allowance is payable, but not both.

The Rent A Room Relief Scheme can also provide full- or part-time students (including apprentices) with accommodation during the college segments of their programme. The scheme permits shorter term residential accommodation including accommodation for full- or part-time students and those availing of four day-a-week “digs” accommodation. Householders participating in the scheme can earn up to €14,000 per annum without incurring a tax liability.