Questions

1319. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships or traineeships in thatching that have been registered or completed in each of the past five years; the number of blocklaying apprenticeships registered or completed over the same period; the number of practising hedgelayers and hazel coppicing practitioners currently in the St…

1320. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the recognised guilds, associations or oversight bodies responsible for standards and training in traditional crafts such as thatching, hedgelaying and hazel coppicing; the steps his Department is taking to address the barriers faced by trainees in accessing insurance, comprehensive training and structured …

1321. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the barriers faced by trainees in heritage crafts such as thatching in accessing insurance, comprehensive training, and structured apprenticeships; if he will review the adequacy of existing short duration training courses which practitioners state are insufficient to produce fully qualif…

1337. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of craft apprenticeship registrations in each of the years 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37351/26]

1338. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of individuals undertaking craft apprenticeships currently in years one and two of their training, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37352/26]

1339. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for a nationwide breakdown of all craft apprenticeships in the construction sector, with details on the number of students who are in year one and year two, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37353/26]

1340. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average wage paid to an apprentice for each of the years of their training, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37354/26]

1341. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average hours a craft apprentice works per day and the average days a craft apprentice works per week when they are not in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37355/26]

1342. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of weeks a craft apprentice spends in training where they are paid the training allowance; the amount the training allowance per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37356/26]

1343. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of employers who are currently paying the national minimum wage to apprentices, in particular craft apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37357/26]

1344. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which the process for registering as an apprentice works; when the application process opens; when do apprenticeships usually start; the length of time each phase lasts; the average total length of an apprenticeship before qualification; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37358/2…

1345. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of employers currently registered as offering craft apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37359/26]

797. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will establish a national apprenticeship or traineeship programme for thatching, given the urgent need to preserve this endangered heritage craft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36465/26]

174. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if will review and engage with stakeholders in relation to apprentice wages given the current cost of living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34345/26]

175. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current number of registered apprentices by apprenticeship programme in north Dublin; the measures being taken by his Department, SOLAS and the education and training boards to expand apprenticeship opportunities and employer participation in north Dublin; the number of apprenticeship places expected t…

178. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his Department is giving consideration to a reduction in fees or support grant to assist apprentices who pay a pro-rata registration fee (student contribution), if their off-the-job training takes place within an institute of technology or technological university. [34349/26]

217. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the steps being taken to improve pay and working conditions for apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34854/26]

1252. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the minimum wage for apprenticeships; whether he will increase the minimum wage for apprentices to encourage participation in light of the rising cost-of-living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34006/26]

1257. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to increase the number of craft apprenticeship meetings from six per year held; to issue the national craft certificates to ensure much needed recently qualified tradespeople can receive their certification without unnecessary delay allowing them to get started working after years of hard work; and if he …

1250. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way in which a young self-employed landscaper can become a fully qualified arborist (details supplied) ; if they can be allowed to avail of the State-funded grants and training pathways such as Solas/ETB; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33270/26]

1260. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current rates of pay applicable to apprentices across the various apprenticeship phases; whether his Department has undertaken any assessment of how these rates align with the costs faced by apprentices, including accommodation, travel, tools, and education-related expenses; whether he will consider rev…

1261. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of instructors that are employed by Tipperary Education and Training Board to conduct commis chef apprenticeship training in 2025 and to-date in 2026, in tabular form. [33094/26]

307. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his views on whether the level of wages for apprentices is adequate, especially in light of the cost-of-living crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30445/26]

1300. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average time it took from phase 1 to completion for each apprenticeship, by trade, in County Kildare in 2025, in tabular form. [30441/26]

228. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprenticeships the State has taken on each year from 2020 onwards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22012/26]