Craft Apprenticeship Transfer Plan
The Craft Apprenticeship Transfer Plan sets out the intention to transfer responsibility for curriculum development, assessment and awarding for craft apprenticeships to education providers.
In January 2026 a high-level plan for the transfer process was approved by James Lawless TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
This Plan is being progressed jointly by DFHERIS, SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), in collaboration with Further and Higher Education providers.
As part of ongoing stakeholder engagement on the Craft Transfer Plan quarterly newsletters and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) will be published. Previous versions of these documents can be accessed below.
The accompanying FAQs are intended to support apprentices, employers, providers and other stakeholders by addressing common questions about:
- what is changing and what will remain the same
- how the transition will be managed
- how stakeholders will continue to be engaged
These FAQs will be updated periodically.
The newsletters aim to provide high-level updates on:
- the context and rationale for the Craft Transfer Plan
- current progress and governance arrangements
- key milestones and next steps
The Craft Transfer Newsletter will be circulated quarterly, and this newsletter together with FAQs, will serve as formal channels for conveying information to stakeholders.
Please email craft.transfer@solas.ie or craft.transfer@hea.ie should you wish to contact the project team with any queries or feedback.
