James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)

The question is a good one as to where it goes next. Before I answer that I will talk about the steps my previous answers were stepping through. We need to bring in legislation because the National Training Fund Act does not envisage the type of uses I have just outlined. I think they are important. I met with IBEC and other employer representatives on it. There is a general shared understanding that we need to invest in education and all the things I have just said. This is a very useful resource towards that. The heads of the Bill are being drafted. That is before the relevant committee. I think there was a briefing on it this evening. The intention is to get that legislation before the Dáil very early in the new term. If that legislation is passed through all Stages, which I very much hope and think it can be, early when we resume after the summer break, we can then begin to spend that money and get some impact from that.

The Deputy's question is very perceptive. That is the situation to date but it will continue and there will be more moneys coming into that. It is important in fairness to employers who pay the rate that they see some return on it as well. When they have a return on investment from education, we absolutely need to incorporate workforce skilling and practical measures to support employers as well.

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