Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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98. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills for information on the decision behind the cut of €1.3 million from SOLAS to the Tipperary Education and Training Board, which has resulted in the cancellation of a valuable programme for early school leavers at Cashel local training initiative, which affects 14 students who will be unable to complete their studies and progress to level 5 - equivalent of honours leaving certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37828/25]

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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Could the Minister give me some information on the decision behind the cut of €1.3 million from SOLAS to the Tipperary Education and Training Board which has resulted in the cancellation of a valuable programme for early school leavers at Cashel local training initiative, LTI, which affects 14 students who will be unable to complete their studies and progress to level 5, and if he will make a statement on that?

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I appreciate her question, but I will make it very clear that SOLAS has not reduced funding to Tipperary ETB. In fact, Tipperary ETB has been allocated €35.5 million by SOLAS in 2025, which is an increase of €1.1 million on the 2024 allocation. There are no cuts and there is no reduction. As the Deputy knows, SOLAS allocates funding to ETBs to deliver their programmes within a certain budget. I visited Tipperary ETB just last week and was highly impressed with the work it is doing. I can tell the Deputy that more than 9,600 learner enrolments across various programmes, including PLC, Youthreach, apprenticeships, upskilling and adult education, are occurring there.

One of the initiatives the Deputy spoke about was the local training initiative, LTI, which is funded annually. It is tailored to meet specific community needs and is subject to an annual review. In the 2024-25 academic year, the Cashel LTI had capacity for 16 learners. I am advised that 14 learners enrolled in September 2024 and of these, ten completed the programme to June and seven successfully achieved QQI level 4. To be clear, the Cashel LTI was fully funded by Tipperary ETB in 2024-25. I have been advised that following a comprehensive review to align services with an annual budget, Tipperary ETB made the very difficult decision not to continue funding four of its LTIs, including Cashel, due to high costs and low learner numbers. At present, it is exploring, and this is very important, alternative provision options to support the learner cohort that would normally be served by these LTIs.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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Not to continue funding really means cuts in funds because the funding is not continuing. As explained to me, these learners in Cashel can do level 4 in Youthreach but cannot do level 5, which is what these young people have set their sights on. Eight distinctions at level 5 are the equivalent of 390 leaving cert points. Even if some people do not get the eight distinctions and get a mixture of pass, merit and distinction, they will get points for every module they undertake. There are no points for level 4 and as level 5 gives them access to college, this is the aim of most of the students.

The students were devastated when they were told about this. One student said that it is disgraceful people are being denied education, when it is constantly preached and encouraged that there are no limits to their learning, and that this seems quite limiting. It is also important to acknowledge the role core staff have had in these students' lives. They are now also facing an uncertain future.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I will say again that the Cashel LTI was fully funded by Tipperary ETB in 2024-25. I have been advised that following a comprehensive review to align services with its annual budget, Tipperary ETB made the very difficult decision not to continue funding four of its LTIs due to high costs and low learner numbers. At present, Tipperary ETB is actively exploring alternative provisions to support the learner cohort that would normally and traditionally be served by LTIs.

The idea that these people are being set adrift is absolutely not the case because Tipperary ETB is supporting them. It is looking at alternative pathways for them, but because of the low numbers that were in the course and finished it, Tipperary ETB took this difficult decision. It is trying to support students with alternative options, which sounds like a good way to progress.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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While Tipperary ETB may have tried to find solutions to avoid this situation, and it claims that "no current learners are impacted, as all students enrolled in these programmes have completed their programme", that is simply not true. I have received all the testimonials from these learners. All are very much impacted and all are now struggling to come to terms with what is next for them.

At the heart of communities and smaller towns throughout the country are FET courses that give young people a second chance at education. The Minister of State and I can both acknowledge that conventional classroom education does not suit everyone. LTI courses, such as the one in Cashel, offer a lifeline to other opportunities, which allows them to further their education to college level. I ask her to urgently reassess this. I hear that she is trying, but she needs to go into this decision deeper and quicker in order to allow these learners to continue with their education, as they deserve that and should not be put in this situation.

Marian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy. I recognise she really cares about this, as I do, but Tipperary ETB is in charge of its own decisions when it comes to what courses it will provide. It has looked at what happened last year, what the student intake was and how it can best provide for all of the students in Tipperary, who are being supported. It is important to say that Tipperary ETB has requested contact details of current and prospective LTI learners in order to provide personalised guidance and support in their educational options. It has advised that it is exploring options to support learners who would typically be served by LTIs. It provides a range of level 5 courses across the county, including flexible, part- and full-time training programmes, ensuring accessible pathways for learning. To be fair, responding to growing demand, Tipperary ETB advised that it remains committed to meeting learner needs within current funding limits. I genuinely believe it is doing the very best it can.