Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I fundamentally agree with Deputy Conway-Walsh. I ran out of time on my last answer but I fundamentally agree with the Deputy in regard to the size of the surplus. It is prudent to have a level of surplus. We would agree on that. It is imprudent to have such a large surplus. I agree on that too. The challenge for the Government, and I respectfully suggest it is also a challenge for the Opposition to show how it is done, is that any expenditure from the NTF is categorised as the equivalent of general Government expenditure. We have signed up to, and I believe the Opposition supports, operating within the general fiscal rules, the European framework and the likes. Having said that, I am doing exactly as the Deputy suggests, which is engaging with other Departments, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, to see how we can better leverage this. I would like to see a particular application of the NTF to support skills priorities and to develop the quality of our workforce. In regard to the latter issue I envisage an expanded mandate for Skillnet Ireland, which is the way to proceed, in leading workforce development as the Government agency with extensive partnerships with industry and employees. In addition the Deputy will be aware that the OECD is conducting a full review of Ireland’s skills planning and development and it can be considered in that context.

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