Written answers
Tuesday, 29 July 2025
Department of Education and Skills
Apprenticeship Programmes
Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3333. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills how a 23-year-old apprentice (details supplied) in his first year of a plumbing apprenticeship in Galway getting paid €7.50 per hour can afford to live securely while trying to complete his training, whose parents, along with paying their own mortgage must also contribute to his rent of a shared room for €800 per month; to outline the additional supports available when families must bear the brunt of financial burden; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41475/25]
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Maintaining apprenticeship as an attractive option for both employers and learners is essential to achieving the Government’s goal of 12,500 new apprentice registrations annually by 2030 and this will be a central focus of the next Action Plan.
While wages are a key factor for those considering apprenticeships, neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages. Instead, wages of around three quarters of the overall apprentice population are guided by long-standing industrial relations mechanisms. For the remainder, wages are agreed between apprentices and their employers.
The Deputy's query refers to gross wage norms for apprentices working in the construction sector, which are defined by a Sectoral Employment Order. Under the Sectoral Employment Order, wages increase each consecutive year of an apprentice’s training and exceed the minimum wage by year three.
During their off-the-job full-time training phases, when in full-time education, plumbing apprentices receive a training allowance provided by the state based on sectorally agreed gross wage norms. This ensures apprentices continues to have an income while in full-time training.
Apprentices may also avail of meal and travel or accommodation supplementary allowances which are designed to assist with these expenses. In addition, as employees, apprentices who find themselves in difficulty are entitled to access general employment supports through the social welfare system.
A key element of the new Student Accommodation Strategy is the promotion of digs accommodation arrangements, a flexible and often more cost-effective choice that benefits students while also offering homeowners additional income. The 2024 promotional campaign doubled the number of available listings. Building on these developments, ongoing promotional efforts, along with the introduction of a Voluntary Regulatory Framework and sample licence agreement, aim to strengthen this safe, reliable alternative within the wider student housing landscape and may be of interest.
Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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3334. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason there are college placements assigned by SOLAS, and the Education and Training Boards, often to places far from where apprentices are living; whether his Department have plans to prioritize local training allocations and reduce delays in these; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41476/25]
James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As far as possible, SOLAS schedules apprentices as soon as possible to their off-the-job training and at the nearest available training location relative to their home location. If a placement is not available near an apprentice’s home location, they will be called to the next nearest available location.
Apprentices and their employers receive written notification from the relevant Education and Training Board (ETB) between six and 13 weeks prior to the start of the training phase. This scheduling is based on information provided by SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office (NAO).
Apprentices and employers have seven working days from the date of issue to confirm attendance. If the offer is declined, the place is reallocated to the next apprentice on the national waiting list. Apprentices may decline up to three scheduling offers, after which they remain on the waiting list for future offers. This process ensures full class intakes and efficient use of training capacity.
Not all apprenticeship programmes are available in every ETB or Technical University (TU). Apprentices are informed during induction that they may be required to travel to other counties for training. Each apprentice is assigned a Training Advisor in their employer’s region, who provides ongoing support throughout the programme.
Craft apprentices required to travel outside their home region may qualify for an accommodation allowance. Travel and meal allowances are also available, though only one type of allowance is payable per phase.
The Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme offers an additional accommodation option for apprentices during off-the-job training. It allows householders to earn up to €14,000 per annum tax-free by providing short-term accommodation, including for students and apprentices.
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