I propose to take Questions Nos. 1087, 1088, 1089, 1090 and 1091 together.
A national Hairdressing apprenticeship programme has been operating since 2019. It is a three-year consortia-led programme where graduates achieve a Level 6 qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications.
While wages are a key factor for those considering apprenticeships, it is important to note that neither SOLAS nor my department are responsible for or involved in the setting of apprentice wages. Apprentices are employees and remain employees of their employer for the duration of their apprenticeship. In the case of the 53 consortia-led apprenticeship programmes, of which Hairdressing is one, wages are agreed between the apprentice and the employer in the contract of employment. Under current legislation, minimum wage laws—which fall under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment—do not apply to apprentices as defined under the Industrial Training Act, 1967, or the Labour Services Act, 1987.
Apprentices also do not meet the criteria of the Student Support Act, 2011 in that they are not attending an approved full-time course in approved institutions.
The Government is committed to reducing the cost of education for students and families in a financially sustainable way. I secured €2.5 million in Budget 2026 to permanently reduce the student contribution fee that apprentices pay in higher education by 17%. In addition, targeted financial supports are available for apprentices from underrepresented groups such as the Travelling Community or those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds.
In January 2022, as part of the implementation of the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025, government also introduced a targeted grant of €2,666 available to employers who employ apprentices from the minority gender on programmes which have over 80% representation of a single gender. This initiative was designed to encourage greater gender diversity in traditionally male or female dominated fields. Since the gender-based bursary’s introduction, we have seen an increase of approximately 95% in female participation in apprenticeships, from 1,535 at the end of 2021 to 2,996 by the end of October this year. Women now represent approximately 10% of the overall apprentice population, up from approximately 6% in January 2022. As of end-October 2025, the consortia-led apprenticeship population is 44% female. Of the 78 apprenticeship programmes currently available, 47 qualified for the gender bursary in 2024 and 2025. Notably, 46 of these relate to female participation, with the exception of Hairdressing, where male apprentices qualify.
Apprenticeships, by blending practical workplace experience with formal education, are a powerful tool for developing both technical and transversal skills—such as problem-solving, communication, and adaptability—essential for a workforce navigating digitisation. I have prioritised investment in apprenticeships. In Budget 2026, I secured investment of €79 million in apprenticeship delivery, bringing the total funding for apprenticeship in 2026 to over €410 million.
