Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)

I thank the Deputies for raising the issue. I had a positive meeting yesterday with representatives of Tipperary ETB. I was encouraged to hear about the good work ongoing. We had a good conversation and agreed that there are challenges. We are trying to work to manage those challenges in the best way possible.

To come to the issue raised by the Deputies, ETBs, as they know, support community-based groups by providing funding for intervention projects that provide a range of learner-centred training and related services. These initiatives aim to assist individuals or groups experiencing exclusion and labour market disadvantage to either enter or re-enter the labour market. As both Deputies said, these are important initiatives. Local training initiatives, LTIs, are one example of this kind of initiative. However, LTIs, by their nature, are temporary and often high-cost initiatives designed to meet specific community needs.

As the State agency responsible for the further education and training sector, SOLAS allocates funding to 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver further education and training, FET, programmes. Each ETB must prioritise and manage delivery of further education and training programmes strictly within its allocated budget. SOLAS has provided an allocation of €35.5 million to Tipperary ETB for 2025. This is an increase of nearly 22% of funding provided since 2020. This funding supports over 9,600 learner enrolments in FET. Activities funded range from post leaving certificate, PLC, courses, to Youthreach, apprenticeships, reskilling and upskilling courses, and adult literacy courses, including English language tuition.

Tipperary ETB has advised my officials that a comprehensive review of all FET provision was undertaken to ensure alignment with the available budget. Further to this review, Tipperary ETB has advised it has made the difficult decision not to continue funding several LTIs. This decision affects four LTIs located in Littleton, Cahir, Cashel and Tipperary town. These LTIs are funded on an annual basis and subject to a business review. Tipperary ETB has met with all four LTIs in question and informed them of the funding position for the remainder of 2025. It is now a matter for the each LTI board to consider its options.

Tipperary ETB informed my Department that no current learners were impacted as all have completed their programmes. The impact is on the availability of places for new learners for the remainder of 2025. I am not minimising the effect, but am telling the Deputies what the situation is.

I hope the Deputies will appreciate that the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has no role in the day-to-day operational management of ETB boards, which are independent statutory bodies. In line with its functions set out in the Act of 2013, it is the responsibility of each board to plan and deliver services throughout the year, subject to its available budget and local needs. Tipperary ETB has advised the Department's officials that due to the high costs and low learner numbers associated with delivering these four LTI programmes, it has taken the difficult decision not to renew funding for 2025, while it assesses priorities and community needs in line with available funding.

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