Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 January 2022
1154. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the target number of total registered apprentices for 2022; the breakdown between craft and consortia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63606/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, the Government has set an overall target of 10,000 new apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025. Projected total registrations for 2021 were 6,450. The projected total for end 2022 is 7,500.
However actual registrations for 2021 have already exceeded the projected 2022 targets. There were 8,607 total apprentice registrations for 2021 which is broken down as 6,955 craft apprentices and 1,652 consortia apprentices.
The recent appointment of Dr Mary-Liz Trant as Director of the National Apprenticeship Office, a key structure in the new apprenticeship architecture, marks an important development in delivering on the vision articulated in the Action Plan. This will create additional energy for making even further progress towards the 2025 target of 10,000 annual registrations.
Although year on year growth is difficult to estimate for an employer demand-led system, based on year on year growth to date, my Department predicts a roughly 75/25% split between craft and consortia apprenticeship registrations.
