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

I thank the Deputy. Our further and higher education system plays a central role in ensuring that graduates are equipped with the essential skills that will enhance their employability. It allows graduates to adapt to diverse tasks and contribute meaningfully to the workforce and society. There are approximately 400,000 people enrolled in further and higher education in Ireland, and this is projected to grow further in the coming years. Our Department has prioritised enhancing the responsiveness of the sector to acute skills needs and this work is ongoing. There has been significant investment in additional provision across multiple programmes and disciplines, including landmark agreements for additionality in medicine and other healthcare disciplines both in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. There are many subsidised programmes offered through higher education that allow for upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning. These include Springboard+, the human capital initiative and micro-credential courses. Many of the courses offered through these programmes focus on areas of skills need such as ICT, construction, and green skills.

Budget 2025 includes an allocation of over €4.5 billion for our Department. This will allow for a significant increase in funding for higher education, including an additional €50 million in core higher education funding from the national training fund, with annual increases in core funding from the national training fund up to a level of €150 million per year by 2030.

See this speech in context