469. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Education and Skills if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding apprenticeships; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4123/16]

This is an operational matter for SOLAS who manage the apprenticeship programme.

I am informed by SOLAS that the apprenticeship management system is designed to automatically call apprentices by location, trade, and training phase on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available Education and Training Board and/or Institute of Technology. While every effort is made to eliminate unnecessary travel, unfortunately for some apprentices it is impossible to avoid having to attend training facilities that are not convenient to their locality.

SOLAS strongly recommends that employers and their apprentices accept whatever offers are made to them as failure to accept such offers will extend the period of their apprenticeship training, which may have financial repercussions for them throughout their apprenticeships.

Apprentices may be entitled to either a travel or an accommodation allowance to attend their off-the-job training. They may also be entitled to a meal allowance if there is no subsidised canteen available.