Apprenticeship Programmes

1063. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is satisfied that all available opportunities for trade apprenticeships within each Government Department are being allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17031/25]

1068. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will review the case of an apprentice (details supplied) in relation to the difference in rates; if he will examine the policies in place regarding apprentice pay and training allowances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17243/25]

1076. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of pipefitting places available at phase 4 and phase 6, nationally, by institution; the number of registered pipe fitting apprentices at phase 3 and phase 5 on 1 March 2025; if there are any plans to increase spaces for this vital trade, in tabular form; and if he will make a…

839. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of the pay discrepancies between the apprentice electrical contracting rate and the engineering industry rate; if there are concrete plans to address this pay discrepancy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15299/25]

841. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that in some cases, apprenticeships that would ordinarily take four years to complete, are taking seven years to finish; if he will investigate a case of a person (details supplied) with a view to providing more classes to facilitate the completion of apprenticeship…

1. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress being made with regard to the current challenges in the apprenticeship system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14864/25]

25. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures his Department is implementing to clear the backlog of apprentices awaiting completion of their training. [12498/25]

26. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to the shortage of places in a trade sector (details supplied); the actions he will take to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14505/25]

45. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to incentivise apprenticeship schemes, especially for post-Secondary school students who want to pursue a trade or grow skills rather than entering the route of 3rd level education. [6742/25]

48. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will seek to abolish the pro-rata fee for apprentices and ensure that apprentices are paid a living wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14568/25]

52. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the additional measures he is planning to introduce to make apprenticeship programmes more attractive given the urgent need to increase the number of people qualified in the trades to address capacity issues; the plans to remove financial barriers to increase take-up of apprentices…

54. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the action that will be taken to address high dropout rates from apprenticeships, such as increasing pay, abolishing fees and ensuring access to off the job training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14352/25]

55. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to provide an update on the work within his Department to prepare a new five-year apprenticeship action plan 2026-2030. [14613/25]

57. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the progress on achieving the target of 10,000 annual apprenticeship registrations by the end of 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13983/25]

61. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will take action to ensure that no apprentice is paid less than the national minimum wage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/25]

69. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures being taken to address the delays with apprentices, including pipefitter apprentices, completing their studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14104/25]

72. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what measures are being taken to ensure sufficient capacity for in-class training for apprenticeships at all levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14614/25]

875. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to detail the work of his Department on achieving a greater gender balance in apprenticeships; the take-up of the supports to help achieve a better balance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13382/25]

876. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the work of his Department with stakeholders regarding the use and adoption of modern methods of construction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13383/25]

879. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware of an issue relating to the communication between Solas and TU Dublin which has delayed at least one apprentice in qualifying for their craft certification; and the measures that will be taken to rectify this and prevent its reoccurrence for other much needed tradespeople. [1…

885. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures he is taking to address the shortage of tutors for phase 6 pipefitting apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14090/25]

886. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of pipefitting apprentices currently affected by the delays and expense of extended studies due to only one tutor operating at phase 6 level in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14091/25]

1899. Deputy Marie Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of apprentices who started their apprenticeships, by type, in each of the years 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10733/25]

1918. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if his attention has been drawn to discrepancies in pay for apprentices completing the off-the-job college phases of their apprenticeship at a company (details supplied) compared to other apprentices completing the same course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11960/25]

1926. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will address the concerns raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding disparity in pay for apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12246/25]