Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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421. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the cost to Improve pay for instructors to increase training capacity in the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28037/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Apprenticeship Instructors are public sector staff. The applicable pay rates for staff across the public sector are determined by national pay agreements negotiated with staff representatives and approved by Government.

Any changes to pay can occur only through these processes, and any proposals would need to be considered in detail by the relevant Department and trade unions and the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

Currently, the Public Service Agreement sets out the agreed approach to public service pay for the period 1 January 2024 to 30 June 2026. Under the agreement, all public servants, including instructors, will benefit from a general round pay increases totalling 9.25% over two-and-a half years.

Employer demand for craft apprenticeship has grown in recent years, demonstrated by yearly registrations increasing by 34% over a five-year period, from 5,300 in 2019 to 7,100 in 2024. Government has invested significantly in growing apprenticeship training capacity with €67 million allocated in Budget 2024 and €77 million allocated in Budget 2025.

This increased investment supported a national recruitment campaign for apprentice instructors which was launched in late 2023 and resulted in 134 new instructor posts being filled nationally. More than 80 instructors were also converted from fixed-term to permanent contracts, supporting retention in the sector.

My department, in conjunction with the National Apprenticeship Office, continues to monitor craft training capacity against forecasted demand, ensuring it meets future skills needs.