Ó An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State Niall Collins have reminded apprentices that they are entitled to a one-third reduction in the fees they pay to higher education institutions.
The measure was part of the Budget for 2024, following on from the successful delivery of a similar measure in 2023, which has benefitted up to 9,831 apprentices nationwide attending nine higher education institutions across the country.
Recognising the increasing cost of living, the measure was aimed at putting more money into peoples’ pockets as they access the opportunities available across the more than 70 apprenticeship programmes on offer.
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“The cuts in apprenticeship fees are real and practical measures that will help apprentices with the challenges and costs associated with attending college.
“This funding is in addition to other access and inclusion measures I have introduced, including increased funding for bursaries, to ensure that our apprenticeship population is more representative of the national population.
“Apprenticeships provide young people with so many opportunities and crucially contribute to achieving so many important social goals and meeting the government’s key targets, such as Housing for All and climate action.
“I am determined to continue to open up access to these opportunities and I am particularly delighted to be able to introduce this measure for so many apprentices.”
The measure will be applied directly for those apprentices who have not yet paid their student contribution fee, whilst those who have paid it are to be reimbursed.
Minister Collins said:
“We recognise the vital role the apprentice plays in our society, we want to put money back in their pockets to address the immediate issues they are facing, so I am delighted to announce this fee reduction.
“I am committed to investing in our apprentices nationwide who will be key to meeting the challenges of today and those that lie ahead.”
Budget 2024 also provided funding for apprenticeships as follows.
Budget 2024 provides €67 million (€57 million in core funding and €10 million temporary). This will provide core investment into the apprenticeship system and allow craft apprenticeship to continue to grow from 13,000 places in 2022 to over 16,000 places in 2024.
This funding increases the total capacity of the apprenticeship system and will reduce the time that apprentices wait for training.
This funding will support skills development in key areas, especially in construction skills, and support delivery of government commitments on Housing for All, and the Climate Action Plan.
Of the total funding, €57 million goes toward baselining €60 million temporary Apprenticeship funding in 2023. This is before any adjustments from the Building Momentum pay deal and at the Revised Estimates.
Increasing access to apprenticeship through additional bursary support to under-represented groups. Bursaries are proposed to support apprenticeship learners in all ETBs and at TUS Limerick and Athlone, MTU, ATU Galway and TU Dublin.