Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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389. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to adequately support those undertaking apprenticeships (details supplied) in line with the programme for Government’s commitments regarding apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36784/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The current Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021–2025 is under review, and preparations are underway to engage stakeholders in shaping the next plan, which will cover the years 2026–2030. A key focus of this upcoming plan will be the development of an Integrated Apprenticeship System, which will include considerations of matters you have raised.

It is important to note that neither SOLAS nor the Department is responsible for setting apprentice wages. Craft apprentices are employed directly by their employers during the “on-the-job” phases of their training, and their wages are determined through collective bargaining within each sector. In the cases of the construction sector, these wages are supported by a sectoral employment order, the Sectoral Employment Order (Construction Sector) 2023 which came into effect on 18 September 2023.

The SEO sets the minimum hourly rates for workers, but this does not prevent an employer paying a higher rate of pay than defined in the SEO.

The current construction sector apprentice hourly pay rates as set out in the SEO are €7.41 in year 1; €11.12 in year 2, €16.68 in year 3, and €20.02 in year 4. 

It is important to recognise that a craft apprenticeship leads to a highly respected and internationally recognised qualification. It prepares young people and career changers for a well-paid and stable career. The Central Statistics Office reported recently that an apprentice who qualified in 2020 was earning a median weekly wage of €950 two years later. 

For the 52 consortia-led apprenticeship programmes, a different wage setting mechanism is in place and wages are agreed upon between the apprentice and employer as part of their employment contract.

Under current legislation, minimum wage laws—which fall under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment—do not apply to apprentices as defined under the Industrial Training Act, 1967, or the Labour Services Act, 1987.

When apprentices attend “off-the-job” training at Education and Training Boards (ETBs) or Higher Education Institutions, they receive a fortnightly State training allowance. This allowance is not considered a wage, and there is no employment contract between SOLAS and the apprentice during this time. The allowance is aligned with industry wage norms and varies depending on the apprentice’s training phase or year.

As apprenticeship programmes are national in scope, SOLAS aims to schedule off-the-job training as close as possible to an apprentice’s home. However, if a nearby placement isn’t available, the apprentice may be assigned to the next closest location.

Six to thirteen weeks before training begins, both the apprentice and their employer receive a letter from the ETB with details of the assigned training location. This scheduling is coordinated by SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) to ensure timely progression through the programme.

Apprentices and employers have seven working days from the date of the letter to confirm attendance. If they decline, the place is offered to the next person on the national waiting list. Apprentices may decline up to three offers and still remain eligible for future scheduling. To do so, they should contact their Training Advisor, who provides ongoing support throughout the apprenticeship.

While not all programmes are available in every ETB or Technical University, apprentices are informed during induction that they may need to travel for certain training phases. If travel is required, accommodation allowances are available, along with supplementary allowances for travel or meals. Please note that only one of these—either accommodation or travel—is payable at a time.