Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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598. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will ensure that when an apprentice loses their paid skills-based employment (details supplied) their entire apprenticeship doesn’t collapse with it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22750/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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A priority for my department remains the continued growth of the national apprenticeship system to meet Ireland’s skills needs now and into the future.

The termination of an apprentice’s contract of employment does not result in the termination of the apprenticeship. In this case, the apprenticeship is put on hold until a new apprentice employer is secured, at which point the apprenticeship will resume.

In general, the obligations of the employer and the apprentice are governed by the SOLAS Apprentice and Employer Code of Practice. Section 8.v of the Code of Practice specifically deals with the employer’s obligations if a contract of employment with an apprentice is being brought to a close. The employer is required to contact the SOLAS Training Advisor in writing prior to terminating the employment contract with an apprentice.

In the case of redundancies, employers must take all reasonable steps to have their obligations in connection with apprenticeship transferred to another employer. An employer cannot register a new apprentice with SOLAS unless they first offer the role to any SOLAS apprentice made redundant by that employer within the past 12 months.

The complete Code of Practice is attached and can be accessed via the below link: www.solas.ie/f/70398/x/95bfccc618/apprenticeshipcodeofpractice.pdf