Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 December 2025
1092. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the concerns raised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69093/25]
View answerWhen attending Higher Education Institutions, a student contribution is paid by all individuals enrolled for education, including apprentices. I remain committed to easing the financial burden on apprentices, students and families to access education in a financially sustainable way.
To that end, I secured €2.5 million in Budget 2026 to permanently lower higher education costs for apprentices. This will permanently lower the student contribution by 17% for more than 14,000 apprentices in the 2025/26 academic year.
All craft apprentices are employees. During the on-the-job phases of a craft apprenticeship, apprentices are paid a wage by their employer. Neither SOLAS nor DFHERIS are responsible for setting apprentice wages. For the majority of craft apprentices, minimum wage rates are agreed between employers and unions via collective bargaining.
Allowances for travel, accommodation and meals are available to craft apprentices. In addition, there are targeted supports for learners from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds to help increase access to apprenticeship, such as the Access to Apprenticeship Initiative.
