SOLAS is the State agency with responsibility currently for craft apprenticeship curricula. SOLAS has revalidated both the motor mechanic and heavy vehicle mechanic apprenticeships with QQI and are progressing with the roll-out of these revalidated programmes. Existing apprentices currently on these programmes would undertake skills gap bridging training until the new programmes are rolled-out, thereafter they will follow the training as prescribed in the new curricula.
Maintaining up-to-date curricula for apprenticeships that are responsive to changing industry needs is a key goal under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship and will remain so going forward. With the increasing electrification of the vehicle fleet across the country, there is a need to ensure that training provision responds. In the case of EVs this means ensuring the programme includes fully developed EV/Hybrid service and repair content.
I have set in motion a series of reforms which will see long term improvements in the quality of all craft apprenticeships by transferring the responsibility for craft curricula and assessment to education providers. Stakeholders, including apprentice representatives and the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, have been invited to a town hall information session on the reforms to take place shortly.
For recently qualified Motor Mechanics there are various providers for EV training/upskilling at present in Ireland. These range from private industry providers serving the motor industry and vehicle manufacturers/dealerships to ETB and TU providers serving industry.
In order to meet 2030 Climate Action Plan targets for passenger cars, a recent study sets out that an average of 345 motor mechanics and technicians will require EV specific training annually. This will include new motor mechanic apprentices as well as reskilling and upskilling of existing mechanics per year.
In the past five years there has been a steady intake of apprentices for the heavy vehicle and motor mechanic programmes:
|
Programme title:
|
2021
|
2022
|
2023
|
2024
|
2025
|
|
Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
|
194
|
162
|
232
|
226
|
220
|
|
Motor Mechanics
|
502
|
431
|
482
|
577
|
508
|
|
Total apprentices registrations:
|
696
|
593
|
714
|
803
|
728
|
