SOLAS is approved by Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) as a coordinator provider for pre 2016 craft apprenticeship programmes. SOLAS has a statutory duty to implement a series of monitoring and reporting processes which establish the effectiveness of the apprenticeship training programme delivery.

To ensure proper governance arrangements and independent monitoring systems are in place and are effective, SOLAS is required to confirm the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), 11 Institutes of Technology (IOTs) and the Irish Farriery School are providing the necessary supports and services, and are consistently delivering the respective programmes in accordance with SOLAS and QQI criteria. The objective of monitoring is to safeguard and maintain the integrity of the programmes and associated QQI accredited awards.

SOLAS is approved by Quality Qualification Ireland (QQI) as a coordinator provider for pre 2016 craft apprenticeship programmes. SOLAS has a statutory duty to implement a series of monitoring and reporting processes which establish the effectiveness of the apprenticeship training programme delivery.

In April 2016 QQI issued mandatory core statutory quality assurance guidelines for all approved QQI providers. The QQI guidelines identify the requirements ‘QQI approved training providers’ must observe, which includes their obligations in ensuring quality assurance requirements are being observed. SOLAS, as coordinating provider of pre-2016 apprenticeship programmes, therefore is required by its governance obligations to undertake comprehensive independent monitoring and evaluation of programme delivery and associated services.

SOLAS as a coordinator provider is directly responsible for 25 pre 2016 apprenticeship programmes, which currently have an active population of over 14 300 apprentices. The active apprentice population is expected to grow to 30 000 apprentices by the end of 2020.

To ensure proper governance arrangements and independent monitoring systems are in place and are effective, SOLAS is required to confirm the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), 11 Institutes of Technology (IOTs) and the Irish Farriery School are providing the necessary supports and services, and are consistently delivering the respective programmes in accordance with SOLAS and QQI criteria. The objective of monitoring is to safeguard and maintain the integrity of the programmes and associated QQI accredited awards.