Apprenticeship Programmes

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Questions (3330)

Eoghan Kenny

Question:

3330. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he is aware that apprentices in metal fabrication in construction and engineering are being paid at different rates with regard to training allowance rates in phases of their training, despite carrying out the same training in the same environments; if so, if he plans to take steps to remedy this disparity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41423/25]

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Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

When craft apprentices attend “off-the-job” training in Higher Education or Education and Training Boards they receive a fortnightly State-paid training allowance. This is not a wage and there is no contract of employment between SOLAS and the apprentice. Neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages for craftspersons or apprentices.

Gross wage norms, the minimum an employer can pay a crafts person, are predominantly set through collective bargaining, with the construction sector, rates further underpinned by a sectoral employment order.

I am aware that the craft State training allowance is aligned to the gross wage norms of the sector in which the apprentice is employed and to the phase or year of training they are in - not to the specific apprenticeship programme. As a result, two apprentices on the same programme but employed in different sectors may receive different allowances. My department has requested a report from SOLAS to examine this matter in further detail.