Background information

As part of the Action Plan on Apprenticeship, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has launched a new gender-based funding bursary to be paid to the employers of certain defined apprenticeships. The bursary will be implemented with effect from 1 January 2022.

This is a key strand of the action plan on apprenticeships which is a workforce support measure post-COVID.

Speaking at the launch, Mary-Liz Trant, Director of the National Apprenticeship Office said: "At the moment only 1,500 or 6% of apprentices in Ireland are women. In the construction and engineering fields that percentage is even lower. We want to see really strong take up of the bursary among employers, with increased diversity benefitting our 21st century industries."

Content of measure

The gender-based is worth a total of €2,666. This funding will be available to employers who employ apprentices on eligible apprenticeships programmes where there are more than 80% representation of a single gender as of 1 January 2022. It will be paid in two instalments:

• €1,333 paid after 6 months training by the apprentice.
• €1,333 paid after 18 months training by the apprentice.

The list of eligible programmes are as follows:

• Agricultural Mechanics
• Aircraft Mechanics
• Arboriculture
• Brick and Stone-Laying
• Carpentry and Joinery
• Construction Plant Fitting
• Craft Butcher
• Cybersecurity
• Electrical
• Electrical Instrumentation
• Electronic Security Systems
• Engineering Services Management
• Equipment Systems Engineer
• Farriery
• Geo Driller
• Hairdressing (men less than 20%)
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanics
• Industrial Electrical Engineer
• Industrial Insulation
• Instrumentation
• Manufacturing Engineer
• Mechanical Automation and Maintenance Fitting (MAMF) Metal Fabrication Motor Mechanics
• Network Engineer Associate
• OEM Engineer
• Painting and Decorating
• Pipefitting
• Plastering
• Plumbing
• Polymer Processing Technology
• Principal Engineer
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
• Sales
• Scaffolding
• Sheet Metalworking
• Stonecutting and Stonemasonry
• Telecoms & Data Network Technician
• Toolmaking
• Vehicle Body Repairs
• Wood Manufacturing and Finishing

This list will be reviewed and updated in January 2023.

Use of measure

No information to date.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Female workers	Sector specific set of companies	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Company / Companies	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal	Any other form of consultation, institutionalised (as stable working groups or committees) or informal

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Both social partners were consulted as part of the development of the Action Plan on Apprenticeship 2021 - 2025.

Views and reactions

No information.

Sectors and occupations

Sources

• 14 April 2022: Minister Harris announces new gender-based funding for apprenticeship employers (www.gov.ie)
• 19 April 2022: Employers will be paid more to take on female apprentices (www.irishexaminer.com)