- Duration
4 years
- Apprentices remuneration - characteristics
Type: wage paid by employer; fixed amount per hour
Remuneration setting: mixture of collective agreements and individual employer-apprentice agreements.
Coverage: on-the-job training
Variation(s): by the year of apprenticeship and trade- Apprentices remuneration - amount
- Time foreseen for on-the job-training
More than 50% of the overall duration of apprenticeship
Number of hours per year (average): 1,600Level: 10.75% of the annual gross income of the apprentice
Paid by: the employer and the apprentice
Rights: an employee may be entitled to social insurance payments if they lose their job, become sick or injured, have to leave their employment temporarily for family or caring reasons or if they retire.
The full range of social insurance benefits include: State Pension (Transition or Contributory), Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s (Contributory) Pension, Guardian’s Payment (Contributory), Invalidity Pension, Occupational Injuries Benefits, Treatment Benefit (Dental or Optical), Jobseeker’s Benefit, Illness Benefit, Carer’s Benefit, Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit and Health and Safety Benefit.- Additional support for apprentice
The amount of the training allowance received by an apprentice depends on the trade and the year of their programme. The average maximum amount that an apprentice in a traditional apprenticeship programme could receive per annum through training allowance was EUR 4,757 in 2016. This is the average of all annual training allowances paid to apprentices across the various types of training programmes and according to the stage of the training programme. For example, a motor apprentice can receive a total of EUR 4,290 in training allowances during the first year of their programme while an electrical apprentice in year 3 can receive EUR 6,072.
- Financing on-the-job training
On-the-job training costs, including the apprentices' wages, are covered by the employer. Social insurance contributions are paid by both the employer and the apprentice. All employers may benefit from training tax allowance and those who have recruited a female apprentice on an approved craft apprenticeship programme may also apply for grant (Female Apprentice Bursary).
- Financing off-the-job training
Public financing: EUR 69,100,000 (2016), EUR 55,300,000 (2015). The National Training Fund, based on the levy on companies, contributes to the cost of providing off-the-job training.
- Financing of the scheme overall
Public financing (national resources): 69,100,000 (2016). HEA funding only, training allowances are not included.
Private financing - the amount spent by employers on apprentices wages and social security contributions: EUR 144,400,000 (2016)
Total: EUR 213,500,00
Source: Department of Education and Skills, SOLAS and social partners
No EU funds involved.- Illustration: sources of funding and financial flows
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- Assessment of financing arrangements
The main advantage to the employer of apprentices on the traditional or pre-2106 apprenticeship training programmes is that they do not have to pay the apprentice during the off-the-job training periods. The main disadvantage is that employers have very little say on the length and timing of the off-the-job training elements which can pose problems for smaller businesses that do not have access to their apprentices for long periods — some off-the-job training periods can be 22 weeks in duration.
- Contextual information
Statutory minimum wage: EUR 1,546.35 (2016, S2); EUR 1,563.25 (2017, S1 and S2)
Average yearly working time (hours) for a full time job: 1,809.60
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