Albert Dolan (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

971. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for an update on the current waiting times for apprentices registered under the GRETB, including those on the manufacturing engineering programme; if he will outline the average and longest waiting times for block release training across all trades nationally; the reasons for these delays; and the measures being taken to address the backlog and ensure apprentices are not left waiting years to progress their training. [51501/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Currently, the median aggregate completion time for an apprenticeship is 228 weeks, including a 12 to 16-week period required for QQI validation, indicating that most apprentices are completing their apprenticeship within a timely period.

It is important to note that Manufacturing Engineering is part of the post 2016 consortia-led apprenticeship model. This programme has fixed intake timing, with a set intake number of training places and funding. Off-the-job training and progression of the apprentice is facilitated based on the academic calendar. There are no waiting times associated with consortia-led apprenticeships.

Craft apprenticeship is a national programme of training and apprentices registered in Galway and Roscommon may undertake their off-the job training with any provider based on their registration date and available provision across the country. This ensures that all apprentices are queued in order of their registration. Apprenticeships involve scheduled off-the-job training according to the specific programme and agreements between the apprentice, employer and training provider. Apprentices must complete a minimum of 208 weeks of employment and successfully pass through 7 phases, each serving as a prerequisite for the next. The off-the-job training at phases 2, 4 and 6 totals 40 weeks, which constitutes 20% of the entire craft apprenticeship programme.

Unlike other educational programmes or consortia-led apprenticeships, craft apprenticeships do not have fixed intake periods. Apprentices can be registered by their employers at any time of the year and they are scheduled for off-the-job training based on their registration date. The minimum times provided are guidelines to ensure sufficient exposure to all necessary components at each phase. An apprentice who has successfully completed the minimum on-the-job training period becomes eligible for scheduling to the next off-the-job phase, however the waiting time periods for their next scheduling call does not necessarily mean that an apprentice is delayed in their apprenticeship.

As of September 2025, the median time an apprentice will spend in Phase 1 is 65 weeks including a 12-week minimum mandatory period prior to eligibility at Phase 2. The median time an apprentice spends in Phase 3 is 42 weeks including 26-week minimum mandatory eligibility criteria for Phase 4. The median time an apprentice spends in Phase 5 is 40 weeks including a 26-week minimum mandatory eligibility period for Phase 6.

It is important to note that there needs to be a pipeline of apprentices who are ready to start their training to ensure economies of scale for classes. Since apprentices register throughout the year, and classes are scheduled on a rolling basis, that pipeline, and waiting times, grows and shrinks throughout the year. SOLAS works with Education and Training Boards to monitor each trade individually and ensure sufficient training capacity on an ongoing basis.

The Government is committed to growing apprenticeships, with €67 million allocated in Budget 2024 and €77 million allocated in Budget 2025, bringing the total budget to €339 million in 2025. This is an 84% increase from the apprenticeship budget of €184 million in 2020, the year in which my department was formed.