Enhanced Apprenticeship Scholarship Scheme worth €200,000 announced by Údarás na Gaetlachta to assist Gaeltacht communities
Tá Scéim Scoláireachtaí Printíseachta mhéadaithe fógartha ag Údarás na Gaeltachta inniu (26/06/2020) chun tacú le pobal na Gaeltachta atá faoi bhrú ag géarchéim COVID-19. Tá 50 scoláireachtaí printíseachta de luach níos mó ná €2,000 an ceann ar fáil chun tacú le daoine gur mian leo ceird a fhoghlaim nó tabhairt faoi shlí beatha nua.
In ainneoin na neamhchinnteachta atá cothaithe ag géarchéim an choróinvíris tá deis á thairiscint ag Údarás na Gaeltachta do dhaoine scil/ceird nua a fhoghlaim nó athoiliúint a fháil agus cáilíocht phrintíseachta atá aitheanta ag an gComhairle Phrintíseachta a bhaint amach. Aithnítear na cáilíochtaí seo ag Leibhéal 6 agus os a chionn, go caighdeán céime de réir an chreat náisiúnta foghlama, DCCÉ (Dearbhú Cáilíochta & Cáilíochtaí Éireann / QQI).
Tá réimse forleathan de 55 printíseacht difriúil faoi 12 earnáil éagsúil, atá aitheanta ag SOLAS, gur féidir le pobal na Gaeltachta tabhairt fúthu mar chuid den Scéim Scoláireachta atá á thairiscint ag Údarás na Gaeltachta.
"This scheme and the qualifications gained by people give the Gaeltacht community the confidence to educate themselves in order to strengthen and develop their skills"
Údarás na Gaeltachta’s CEO Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh
The Gaeltacht community can apply to undertake apprenticeships from 55 different apprenticeships under 12 varied sectors, all recognised by SOLAS, as part of the Scholarship Scheme being offered by Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Apprenticeship Scholarships are available in the following sectors:
| · BioPharma; | · Hospitality and Food; |
| · Construction; | · ICT; |
| · Electrical; | · Logistics; |
| · Engineering; | · Motor; |
| · Finance; | · Property Services; |
| · Hair; | · Sales. |
Although traditional trades such as plumbing, carpentry, mechanical and electrical are still very popular, in recent years there has been a significant uptake in modern apprenticeships as more people participate in apprenticeships in BioPharm, Engineering, Financial Services, Accountancy, Computing and so on.
The Apprenticeship Scholarship Scheme has been administered by Údarás na Gaeltachta (and Gaeltarra Éireann prior to that) since the 1970s in order to support Gaeltacht applicants, with a fluency in Irish, to gain a qualification in any one of the SOLAS accredited Quality Assured Apprenticeship Schemes. Under the Údarás scholarship, financial assistance is provided to the apprentice and the company/contractor he/she is employed by at various stages throughout the apprenticeship. Support of over €2,000 is available to companies/contractors who are willing to employ apprentices during the apprenticeship period. The scheme is an advantage to companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta client companies have a long history in supporting apprentices who are learning their trade.
Announcing the Scholarship Scheme Údarás na Gaeltachta’s CEO Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh said “The organisation’s long history with the apprenticeship scholarship scheme indicates that it was, is and will be popular and successful. Some wonderful companies operating the Gaeltacht have been established by people who completed an apprenticeship with Údarás na Gaeltachta’s support. This scheme and the qualifications gained by people give the Gaeltacht community the confidence to educate themselves in order to strengthen and develop their skills. An apprenticeship or trade can be learned in many sectors, such as the mechanical, construction, financial or IT sectors and in turn that training can be extended to the Gaeltacht community particularly at a time when it is more important than ever to learn a new skill or trade.”
The current call for applications for the Údarás na Gaeltachta Apprenticeship Scholarship Scheme 2020 is open until the 17/07/2020. Those interested in learning more regarding the Scholarship Scheme’s eligibility criteria and downloading an application form should visit this website.