Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

74. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she is concerned at the fact that budgets for education and training boards have been reduced by her Department following reviews of VEC-ETB bank accounts; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that in this review, moneys that were taken into account which were exclusively for school use, that is, school trips-tours, parents associations and so on; her views that the existence of moneys cannot justify a reduction in funding to ETBs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31721/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy appears to be referring to the arrangement in 2013, where in Budget 2013 it was decided to reduce the non-pay grant to Vocational Education Committees (VECs)/ Education and Training Boards (ETBs) by €13.2 million. This decision took account of the capacity of VECs/ETBs to utilise cash balances on a once off basis.

In 2014, this reduction in exchequer funding was mostly reinstated. However due to other factors, mainly the ending of the contribution paid by local authorities, which ceased with the commencement of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, and a reduction in receipts raised locally by the ETBs themselves (e.g. in relation to night classes) the Department was not in a position to fully restore the non-pay grant. However, ETBs are required to provide the same level of service in 2014 as in 2013 and a letter to each ETB will issue shortly in this regard.

With regard to funds collected for school trips or by parents' associations, it is the Department's view that such funds should be used only for the purposes for which they were collected.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

75. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the reason the Kildare-Wicklow education and training board received no funding for SOLAS activities and that this programme is administered in Athlone or Waterford instead of being administered from Naas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31730/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The reform of the further education and training (FET) sector envisages a key role for education and training boards (ETBs) in relation to the future delivery of FET in an integrated manner. Part of this involves the transfer of training centres from SOLAS to ETBs. 7 training centres and their staff transferred to ETBs on 1 January 2014 and the remaining 12 training centres transferred to 7 ETBs on 1 July 2014. Each training centre moved to the ETB in whose functional area the centre is located. 5 ETBs, including Kildare and Wicklow ETB, did not receive a training centre.

There has been extensive discussion on this matter between ETBs, SOLAS and the Department. While recognising that the Education and Training Boards Act 2013 provides for all ETBs having training functions, the paramount consideration for my Department is the continuity of training services for learners.

An agreed position for 2014 is in place whereby ETBs with training centres retain primary responsibility for training and continue to provide services to areas which do not have training centres. There is a process underway to consider the position for 2015 and beyond and a number of options are being examined.

Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

76. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide capital budgets in order to support the development of SOLAS programmes by education and training boards across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31732/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

SOLAS currently receives a small capital budget which relates to the training centre network formerly managed by FÁS and now transferred to the Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This funding is now allocated by SOLAS as appropriate to the relevant ETBs managing the training centres. While there is no dedicated capital budget for further education (former VEC) programmes a small amount of funding is allocated annually to ETBs in response to applications for funding for emergency works. In 2013 a total of €736,000 in such funding was allocated.

The recent FET strategy suggested that a dedicated capital funding provision should be a feature of allocations to the ETBs in order to support changes set out in the strategy and the development of further education and training services to learners. This will be considered in the context of the overall capital funding needs of the education and training sector.