Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees
Thursday, 23 November 2023
Public Accounts Committee
Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund
9:30 am
Dr. Colm O'Reardon:
Yes, from memory, it is up 34% from the period before the Covid-19 pandemic. Two things happened. There has been a big increase in interest in and demand for apprenticeships, which is good, and during the pandemic, much of the capacity to train apprentices was lost so there is a backlog in taking people through their training. It is a strong area of focus in the Department. It is close to the top of our agenda.