Written answers
Tuesday, 2 July 2024
Department of Education and Skills
Apprenticeship Programmes
Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
508. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of abolishing all craft apprenticeship course fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27988/24]
Mairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
509. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated first- and full-year cost of extending State support for allowances for craft apprentices by increasing the rates by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27989/24]
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source
I propose to take Questions Nos. 508 and 509 together.
Funding for apprenticeship is determined through the annual Estimates process, led by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.
In advance of Budget 2025 this autumn, an Education Options Paper will be published. This paper will outline various possible measures to reduce the cost of education. This is being done in order to facilitate public discussion about the various choices available to improve student supports. I will be taking these options into consideration when making proposals in the context of Budget 2025 discussions.
However, it should be noted that investment in apprenticeship to grow capacity in the system has been a priority for my Department.
To that end, an additional €67 million was allocated for apprenticeship in Budget 2024, making the total 2024 apprenticeship allocation €298 million. This is an 83% increase when compared to the apprenticeship budget of €163 million in 2021, when the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 was published.
Funding for apprenticeship delivery in Further Education and Training increased from €107m in 2021 to €215m in 2024, while funding for delivery in Higher Education increased from €56m in 2021 to €83m in 2024.
The following table outlines funding for apprenticeship by year since 2021, and by Further Education (SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office) and Higher Education (the Higher Education Authority):
| Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SOLAS and the National Apprenticeship Office | €107m | €150m | €160m | €215m |
| Higher Education Authority | €56m | €65m | € 112m | €83m |
| Total | €163.4m | €214.7m | €271.9m | €298.3m |
During this time, capital funding has also been provided to increase craft capacity. In the immediate pandemic period, €12m was allocated to support additional classes and teaching capacity to ameliorate Covid-19 measures, and €6m was invested to provide additional instructor posts. Additionally, capital expenditure of €54.2m was allocated from 2021-2023 to SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority to facilitate additional craft places across the system.
The Government’s continued investment reaffirms the strong commitment to enhancing and expanding the apprenticeship system.
No comments