Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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320. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of craft apprentices currently waiting to undertake phase 2, 4 and 6 off-the-job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The number of craft apprentices waiting over 6 months for all phases of off-the-job training at the end of August 2024 is 2,629 (Breakdown: Phase 2 2484, Phase 4 116, Phase 6 29)

A plan put in place by the National Apprenticeship Office and overseen by this Department to reduce waiting times for apprentices has nearly halved the number of craft apprentices waiting more than 6 months for their phase 2 off-the-job training from 5,319 in October 2023 to 2,484 in August 2024.

It should be noted that apprentices are not eligible for phase 2 training until they have completed a minimum time of 3 months in phase 1 and have completed induction training and have approval from their employer, meaning that the usual waiting time for an apprentice for phase 2 training is between 3 to 6 months.

Waiting lists are essential as part of the scheduling process to ensure that planning and resources are in place to meet the demand of apprentices in the system and that apprentices are eligible to move to their next phase. This also allows for places not taken up by apprentices who choose to decline a training offer, which they can opt to do up to 3 times, to still be filled from the list.

Like wise apprentices do not become eligible for phases 4 and 6 of off the job training until they have completed phases 3 and 5 and have successfully completed the on job assessments each of which are a minimum of 6 months in duration. As they are predominantly taught in Technical Universities phases 4 and 6 are also bound by the academic year.