Opposition TD's have attacked the Government for "hiding the full extent of the crisis in the apprenticeship system" after it was revealed that over 67% of all apprentices (13,440) are now on a waiting list to access off-site training.
Of the 13,440 on waiting lists, 2,273 are from the Dublin & Dun Laoghaire ETB area.
Off-site training is mandatory and the delay is extending many apprenticeships from four years to over five years, resulting in a loss of income.
In March of this year, 6,928 apprentices were on waiting lists around the country but this has almost doubled, with 13,440 now awaiting training.
Sinn Féin Dublin Mid-West TD, Mark Ward said the situation continues to "spiral out of control" and as a result, "many apprentices will be trapped on apprentice wages for years longer than they should."
Deputy Ward said that there was "a clear attempt to hide the truly alarming rate of increase in the waiting lists after months of claiming the government were taking steps to address the problem" and claims "no other cohort of student are treated in this way."
He said: "We have been contacted by so many apprentices in despair at the situation.
"One has been rescheduled multiple times and has just been informed he won’t be able to access training until January 2022. This means his four-year apprenticeship will take over 5 years to complete.
“Another apprentice has been waiting since the pandemic began and has still not be able to access a place."
Dublin Live has contacted the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for comment.
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