Apprentices waiting more than six months to move to off-the-job training

A Cork TD has said figures showing 3,017 craft apprentices have been waiting more than six months to progress to the off-the-job phase of their training are ‘unacceptable’.

A total of 454 apprentices have been waiting for more than a year.

The figures were obtained by Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire in a parliamentary question to James Lawless, the further education minister.

Apprentices must complete workplace and classroom training, with the off-the-job elements delivered through training centres and higher-education institutions.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said it is unacceptable that apprentices are facing significant delays in progressing to the next stage of their training.

“Lengthy waits risked discouraging people from entering trades at a time when the State is trying to encourage more apprenticeships,” Mr Ó Laoghaire said.

“A properly functioning apprenticeship system is also essential to address the housing crisis and the transition to renewable energy.

“This issue very clearly needs investment and for it to be addressed by a change in policy,” he said, adding that apprenticeships should be treated as seriously as any other form of training.

Responding to Mr Ó Laoghaire, a spokesperson for the Department of Further and Higher Education said that Solas, which is responsible for further education and training, continuously monitors apprenticeship demand — along with the Higher Education Authority and ETB Ireland (education and training boards) — to ensure sufficient training capacity.

Apprentices must complete all required elements of their training phase before progressing to off-the-job training, the department spokesperson said, and added that the system operates on a continuous intake basis to ensure classes are filled and training resources are used efficiently.

The off-the-job training is scheduled in line with the academic calendar and there are no waiting lists for consortium-led apprenticeships, the spokesperson said.

Craft apprenticeships include carpentry, plumbing, motor mechanics, and electrical apprenticeships.

To be eligible for a craft apprenticeship, the applicant must be at least 16 years of age and employed by an approved employer, who then registers the apprentice with Solas.