Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach for allowing me to share time with my colleague in south Tipperary, Deputy Michael Murphy, on this issue as it is of concern to both of us.

Management of the Tipperary ETB shared devastating news with the local training initiative co-ordinators, LTIs, at four centres in south Tipperary. It informed them that due to budgetary constraints from SOLAS, the LTI programmes will cease at the end of this existing term. This is shocking news. Tipperary ETB made it clear that it has received a challenging budget allocation from SOLAS for 2025. Despite ongoing engagement, it has been unable to secure enough funding to sustain the current level of further education and training programmes. Following a review of the funding, it has taken the decision to discontinue the LTIs. This is a retrograde step.

I understand the Minister of State met the chair and some officials of the ETB in Tipperary yesterday. Cahir Development Association, the Spafield Family Resource Centre in Cashel, Knockanrawley Resource Centre in Tipperary town and Littleton community programme are the four concerned. However, the LTIs cannot be lost. They are an essential lifeline and pathway to continuing education for early school leavers, some who might not have been suited to mainstream education and some who are returning to education. Many have progressed successfully. I have spoken to many people today who are affected by this decision, whose futures have been pulled from them with the news that the course they enrolled in has been pulled like this. The tutors, and I salute the tutors, are very dedicated and interested in these people progressing. It is sad. I met former LTI participants who completed the programme in Cahir Enterprise Centre. They now work in the very same enterprise centre and are so pleased that they got that second chance, the opportunity to better themselves when they might not have been able to do so at mainstream school.

I am pleading with the Minister to engage with SOLAS to review the funding allocations for Tipperary ETB and this programme to have it restored. I believe Tipperary ETB is a victim of its own success because there are so many different courses and programmes. This is not the one to take away. No one wants any of the further learning courses to be taken away but these are the very people we talk about who are on the margins and have not been able to come through. It gives them a second chance. It is wonderful. I have been at so many ceremonies and presentations of certificates and have seen the pride on their faces and on their families' faces that they have got a second chance and are now back in full-time employment, thanks to the lifeline of the LTI. It is so important. I know the Minister of State understands that through her own area of Sligo, and she is very compassionate on this issue. I appeal to the Minister of State that we have to go back to the drawing board.

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