Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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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.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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I agree with Deputy McGrath. This decision by the ETB to cut vital local training initiative programmes across Tipperary should be urgently reversed. I acknowledge the critical role played by these programmes in our communities, particularly those delivered at the Spafield Family Resource Centre in Cashel, the Knockanrawley Resource Centre in Tipperary town, the Littleton community programme and the Cahir Development Association. These are not just training schemes; they represent essential pathways for the most vulnerable in society.

I am deeply concerned about the impact of these cuts on the most vulnerable in society. I am, therefore, appealing to the Minister of State and to the ETB to reverse the decision.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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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.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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I am disappointed to hear that. There is clearly a misunderstanding because there are students who have enrolled for courses in September. That is inaccurate information that Tipperary ETB has supplied to the Minister of State.

I will quote the comments of a student, who said the course made them come out of their shell a lot. The student said it is the best thing they have done and went on to say that everyone was friendly and the work was fun. The student said that the course helped them to become more confident and to find a path. Those were the words of just one of the participants.

A second student said that looking back at the person they were last year and the person they are now, they realised there had been a big change. The student thanked the LTI co-ordinators. They have done so much. I have spoken to them today. There are students who have enrolled for September so that is not true information. I am pleading with the Minister of State.

I will say a focal scoir because I am sharing time with Deputy Michael Murphy. The National Training Fund was established by the National Training Fund Act 2000 as a dedicated fund for schemes. It aimed to raise the skills of those in employment and provide training to those who wished to acquire skills. This fund now can be used by the Department to support Tipperary ETB and the other ETBs throughout the country. I appeal to the Minister of State to go back to the drawing board and ensure these people are allowed to continue on their career paths.

Michael Murphy (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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We need to be very honest here. One of the reasons we find ourselves in this position is that while the most recent national wage agreement included a 3.5% increase, only 2% of the funding was provided by the Government. The other 1.5% must be absorbed from the existing budget.

I ask the Minister of State to urgently rethink this decision and to engage with the ETB in Tipperary. I spoke to some of those students who have enrolled for September. These are vulnerable students who are devastated by this decision. I appeal to the Minister of State to intervene.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I fully recognise the value of these courses. To be clear, what Tipperary ETB informed my Department is that no current learners are impacted as they have completed their programmes. However, Deputy Mattie McGrath was right to say that the impact is on the availability of places for new learners for the remainder of 2025. The Deputy was quite right to say that.

My Department is committed to supporting a FET system that helps individuals succeed, boosts economic growth and prepares our workforce for the challenges and opportunities ahead. This commitment is underpinned by a significant investment of over €1 billion in 2025. While the FET system is demand-driven, ETBs must operate within their allocated budgets.

As I outlined in my opening remarks, planning and delivery of services by ETBs is rightly a matter for each individual board, taking into account its allocated budgets and the specific needs of its local community. The Deputies would agree that it would be neither practical nor appropriate for a Minister of State to become involved in the day-to-day operational decisions of these autonomous bodies. However, I recognise what the Deputies are saying. As I said, I had a great meeting yesterday with representatives of Tipperary ETB. I see the valuable and important work they are doing. However, the ETB has made the decision at this point within the resources that have been allocated to it. That is its responsibility. However, I hear what the Deputies are saying. I thank them for their intervention and for highlighting these important courses and their value and impact on people's lives.