Factsheet for measure
IE-2020-10/1064
–
Updated
– measures in Ireland
Apprenticeship incentivisation scheme
Background information
The aim is to encourage employers to take on apprentices, as Ireland expands its apprenticeship system beyond the traditional craft construction and maintenance trades into a range of other manufacturing and service sector jobs.
It is also designed to support employers to continue to recruit apprentices during the immediate COVID-19 period.
The scheme was launched in July as part of the new Government's Jobs Stimulus Programme, but it is open to all employers taking on apprentices between March 2020 to December 2020 inclusive.
Content of measure
Apprenticeship employers are eligible for a €3,000 payment for each new apprentice who is registered between March 1 and December 31, 2020.
€2,000 per apprentice is payable at the point of registration, with a further €1,000 payable in the third quarter of 2021 for each eligible apprentice retained in employment.
The incentive support covers all 58 national apprenticeship programmes and will apply to any new apprenticeship programmes which are launched in 2020. Three new apprenticeship programmes were launched in August 2020 alone.
SOLAS, the statutory agency overseeing the apprenticeship system, is responsible for developing, delivering and administering the scheme. Further information is available on www.apprenticeship.ie
Updates
The following updates to this measure have been made after it came into effect.
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29 October 2021
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The scheme was extended until the 31 December 2021.
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22 October 2020
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The scheme was extended until 30 June 2021.
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Use of measure
Applications were received from employers representing 310 individual apprentices in the first three weeks after the scheme went live in August 2020, according to the Tanaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar, on September 4.
On 16 March 2021, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, announced that 1,941 claims have been submitted online in corresponding to 3,300 apprentices.
On 23 June 2021, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris stated: “Since the launch of the incentivisation scheme, €5.7 million has been paid to over 1,500 employers throughout the country supporting almost 3,000 new apprentice jobs, with many more in the pipeline."
Target groups
Actors and funding
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Actors
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Funding
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National government
Company / Companies
Public support service providers
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National funds
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Social partners
Social partners' role in
designing the measure
and form of involvement:
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Trade unions
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Employers' organisations
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Role
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No involvement
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No involvement
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Form
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Not applicable
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Not applicable
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Social partners' role in the
implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
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No involvement
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Main level of involvement: N/A
Involvement
Social partners not involved - the measure is a Government-led initiative.
Views and reactions
However, it would be fair to say that both employers and unions are positive about the initiative, as both support the health and expansion of the apprenticeship system.
Sectors and occupations
This case is not sector-specific.
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This case is occupation-specific
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Occupation (ISCO level 2)
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Science and engineering associate professionals
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Business and administration associate professionals
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Building and related trades workers, excluding electricians
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Electrical and electronic trades workers
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Stationary plant and machine operators
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Drivers and mobile plant operators
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Sources
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04 September 2020: Government Press Release 4/9/2020
(dbei.gov.ie)
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16 March 2021: Minister Harris marks application for 3,000th apprentice under Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme
(www.gov.ie)
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23 June 2021: Apprenticeship Incentivisation Scheme for employers extended to December 2021 - Ministers Harris and Collins
(www.gov.ie)
