Government invests in five-year apprenticeship plan
![Healthcare apprenticeship at Griffith College Healthcare apprenticeship at Griffith College](/sites/default/files/styles/ultra_widescreen_television/public/storage/apprenticeship%20News%20listing%20image.jpg?h=3c79da22&itok=Lu0DQxOF)
The strategy includes a commitment to reaching 10,000 new apprentice registrations per year by 2025.
The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris, and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins have launched the Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025.
In addition to a goal of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per year by 2025, the plan also includes the creation of a National Apprenticeship Office and a new grant for employers, with a top-up grant for areas of identified national skills needs and/or targeted recruitment of underrepresented groups.
Minister Harris said of the plan:
"The overall apprentice population will grow to over 30,000 registered apprentices in the next five years. In particular, we want to ensure that there is equal access for everyone to apprenticeships, irrespective of their background, gender or age.
"We have listened to businesses and employers too and will introduce further supports to make it easier to take on an apprentice and offer you the financial support to do so.
"This plan has the potential to transform this part of our third level system. Apprenticeship is good for the learner and the employer."
Apprenticeships at Griffith College
Griffith College is pleased to offer its inaugural apprenticeship programme, the Advanced Healthcare Assistant Practitioner apprenticeship. The apprenticeship is open to employed healthcare assistants, Leaving Certificate students with some experience working as healthcare assistants and some mature candidates.*
The two-year programme leads to an NFQ Level 6 Higher Certificate in Healthcare Support Practice. Tadhg Daley, CEO of Nursing Homes Ireland, commented on the programme:
“It is vital healthcare assistants are supported in their professional development and this programme is an important development to progress their career and increase their professional status. It will help them further enhance the quality of care they provide by providing them with deeper knowledge and a broader range of skills to achieve excellence in person-centred care. Nursing Homes Ireland supports this programme because we believe in the value of well trained, competent and motivated healthcare assistants. They are the heart of nursing home care and our wider health services."
*Full entry requirements viewable here.