Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 19 May 2026
1340. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average wage paid to an apprentice for each of the years of their training, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37354/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1341. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the average hours a craft apprentice works per day and the average days a craft apprentice works per week when they are not in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37355/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1342. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of weeks a craft apprentice spends in training where they are paid the training allowance; the amount the training allowance per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37356/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra1343. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total number of employers who are currently paying the national minimum wage to apprentices, in particular craft apprentices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37357/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1340 to 1343, inclusive, together.
Apprentices are employees with a contract of employment, and working hours and weekly schedules are governed by employment law. Both apprentices and employers must comply with the SOLAS Apprenticeship Code of Practice, and apprentices who have concerns about working arrangements can raise them with SOLAS.
With respect to apprenticeship requirements, these are framed in terms of overall employment duration rather than specific working hours. The mandatory duration for a craft apprenticeship, from commencement of training to completion, is a minimum of 208 weeks, with a further period of up to 12 weeks required to process the apprenticeship certificate. The median time to certification across the craft apprenticeship system was 227 weeks in 2025, down from 239 weeks in 2024. This includes off-the-job training phases, 2, 4 and 6, which for most craft apprenticeships amount to 44 weeks in total.
I am very conscious of the cost-of-living pressures facing apprentices and the importance of ensuring that financial barriers do not limit participation in apprenticeship and tertiary education pathways. In recognition of this, in Budget 2026 I introduced measures to reduce the financial burden on learners. A permanent reduction in the student contribution charge from €3,000 to €2,500 under the Free Fees Initiative represents a 17% decrease for eligible apprentices attending higher education. Supported by €2.5 million in funding, this measure will benefit approximately 14,000 apprentices in the 2025/26 academic year.
Additional targeted supports are also available. The Access to Apprenticeship Initiative provides financial assistance, including a €3,000 bursary, to support participation by learners from disadvantaged backgrounds. The Traveller Apprenticeship Incentivisation Programme offers tailored financial and practical supports to improve access, retention and completion for members of the Traveller community. Craft apprentices attending off-the-job training may also access supplementary supports for travel, accommodation and subsistence costs.
My department does not hold wage information for apprentice employers. Apprentices are exempt from minimum wage legislation, which falls under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment. For most craft apprentices, minimum pay rates are determined through collective bargaining or Sectoral Employment Orders and are subject to standard industrial relations dispute resolution mechanisms.
During off-the-job training, craft apprentices receive a State training allowance. While this is not a wage and does not constitute an employment relationship with SOLAS, it is aligned with the minimum pay rates and increases as apprentices progress. By year three, State training allowances across all craft sectors exceed national minimum wage. This is set out in the table below.
CSO data shows that over 90% of apprentices who qualified in 2020 were in employment two years later, with median weekly earnings of €935 (approximately €48,600 annually).
