Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will review the case of an apprentice (details supplied) in relation to the difference in rates; if he will examine the policies in place regarding apprentice pay and training allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17243/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Craft apprentices are employees and are paid directly by their employer during the “on-the-job” phases of their apprenticeship. Craft apprentice gross wage norms differ for different sectors, are set through collective bargaining, and may be underpinned by sectoral employment orders.

When craft apprentices attend “off-the-job” training in Education and Training Board or Higher Education facilities they receive a fortnightly State paid training allowance. This is not a wage and there is no contract of employment between SOLAS and the apprentice. The State training allowance is aligned to gross wage norms for the industry in which the apprentice is employed and to the phase or year of training the apprentice is in.

Neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages for craftspersons. As training allowances are based on the sector in which an apprentice is employed, it can come about that apprentices engaged in off-the-job training on a particular apprenticeship programme receive training allowances that are different to other apprentices on the same programme, just as they may receive different wages when on the job.