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

I agree with the Deputy's sentiments on LTIs. In 2022, a provision of €16.83 million was approved by SOLAS for LTIs, which is broadly in line with the €16.53 million approved for 2021. The 2023 allocation for LTIs will not be decided until the FET budget is finalised with SOLAS, having considered the funding applications that will be submitted by our 16 ETBs.

The number of beneficiaries has declined in recent years. In 2018, it was 3,280. The figure dropped year on year to 2021. I assume that Covid played a role in that. While the planned provision across the 16 ETBs in 2022 was originally for just under 2,500 beneficiaries, a mid-year review saw the approved beneficiaries reduced to 2,205. The number has climbed again, which is positive. We are going in the right direction.

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