Mattie McGrath criticised apprenticeship and college arrangements in Ireland, arguing that delays are preventing apprentices from completing training, advancing their careers and securing mortgages. He said colleges are not taking apprentices and described the situation as unacceptable, citing a case in which an apprentice must wait until February 2022 for a college place.
Apprenticeship bottlenecks
Mattie McGrath told the Dáil that apprenticeship schemes in Ireland are unable to function properly. He said apprentices need both a willing employer and access to college courses, but colleges are not admitting apprentices and the system is worse since COVID.
Consequences for apprentices
McGrath highlighted the personal consequences for trainees, saying an apprentice in his constituency will wait until February 2022 for a college place despite already being six months into a programme. He warned this delay prevents apprentices from progressing and from accessing things like mortgages because of their pay and stalled status.
Employer concerns
The deputy argued employers will face problems and are reluctant to take on apprentices when there is no training structure in place. He said it is understandable that employers hesitate to invest in apprenticeships if colleges cannot provide the required training places.
Government reply and measures
The Taoiseach replied that the Government has an ambitious plan to increase apprenticeships to 10,000 a year by 2025, led by the relevant minister. He said incentives and grant aid are being provided to employers and that those measures are showing some positive effects; he invited McGrath to pass on case details so officials can look into specific problems.
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You've said we're going to take off like a rocket economy. You just said about the theory test, it's a shambles. The apprenticeship in Ireland schemes are unable to function either. I have an apprentice on to me this morning who's joined up and you need two things for an apprenticeship. You need a good employer that will give them the course but they can't get into the colleges. Colleges aren't functioning. So this young man is going to wait until February 2022, even though he's in the apprenticeship with six months, to get his college place. That means he can't move on. That means the employer will have issues as well. But it also means that he can't get a mortgage. He can't get, you know, because of his rate of pay and everything else. He can't make progress. So the apprenticeship scheme is so vital to this economy. It was bad enough before COVID. It's ten times worse now but this delay is unacceptable because employers won't be anxious and you can't blame them to take on apprenticeships when they can't get them into their training and they can't be a structure around it. So we need to deal with the apprenticeship schemes. It was bad as I said before COVID. We need to deal with the colleges who are not taking in the apprentices. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thanks very much, Deputy. As you know, we have a very ambitious plan in relation to apprenticeships, getting up to 10,000 apprentices a year by 2025, being led by Minister Harris. We're now providing incentives and grant aid to employers to take on apprentices and that is showing some positive effects in relation to the particular case you raise. If you want to pass on the details to me or to Minister Harris, we'll see if there's anything we can do to help. Thank you.
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