Maintaining apprenticeship as an attractive option for both employers and learners is essential to achieving the Government’s goal of 12,500 new apprentice registrations annually by 2030 and this will be a central focus of the next Action Plan.
While wages are a key factor for those considering apprenticeships, neither SOLAS nor my department are involved in the setting of wages. Instead, wages of around three quarters of the overall apprentice population are guided by long-standing industrial relations mechanisms. For the remainder, wages are agreed between apprentices and their employers.
The Deputy's query refers to gross wage norms for apprentices working in the construction sector, which are defined by a Sectoral Employment Order. Under the Sectoral Employment Order, wages increase each consecutive year of an apprentice’s training and exceed the minimum wage by year three.
During their off-the-job full-time training phases, when in full-time education, plumbing apprentices receive a training allowance provided by the state based on sectorally agreed gross wage norms. This ensures apprentices continues to have an income while in full-time training.
Apprentices may also avail of meal and travel or accommodation supplementary allowances which are designed to assist with these expenses. In addition, as employees, apprentices who find themselves in difficulty are entitled to access general employment supports through the social welfare system.
A key element of the new Student Accommodation Strategy is the promotion of digs accommodation arrangements, a flexible and often more cost-effective choice that benefits students while also offering homeowners additional income. The 2024 promotional campaign doubled the number of available listings. Building on these developments, ongoing promotional efforts, along with the introduction of a Voluntary Regulatory Framework and sample licence agreement, aim to strengthen this safe, reliable alternative within the wider student housing landscape and may be of interest.
