Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the question. Local training initiatives, LTIs, are training and work experience programmes carried out in partnership with community and voluntary organisations. They provide a basis for the 16 education and training boards, ETBs, to contract with community bodies to provide a service initiative in a locality where there are identified community needs. Training provision is intended to be sufficiently flexible to address the identified need and is typically six to 12 months in duration.

Due to the impact of Covid-19, the further education and training system quickly enabled provision to be moved online, where possible, in collaboration with Quality and Qualifications Ireland, QQI, and wider stakeholders. On-site provision was impacted as a result of the restrictions during 2020 and into 2021. However, guidance was issued regarding supporting some face-to-face provision for time-critical, practical elements of programmes where on-site attendance was necessary, as well as for learners from marginalised backgrounds. The provision of LTIs has been part of the overall response, and as a result of that response, I confirm that in 2020, 87.3% of unique learners participating in LTIs fully or partially completed their courses. This is a slight increase on the completion rates in 2018 and 2019, where 84% and 86%, respectively, of learners fully or partially completed their courses.

My Department is committed to the continuing development of LTIs and the important services they provide to learners within communities.

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