Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

On the capacity constraints in particular, we have had several discussions around the National Training Fund because obviously, we are coming up to having €1.5 billion in the National Training Fund. How will that be treated under the new fiscal rules? There seems to be a real confusion at the moment from the Government about if and how it can mobilise that fund. That was never intended to be a reserve fund and now it has ballooned to €1 billion to €1.5 billion, while we have these huge shortages in skills and further and higher education.

That is one of the things that will prevent us from implementing what has been promised in the national development plan. Why is there a reluctance to spend the money? What technical issues are preventing us from spending the money that has been accrued in the fund?