Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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17. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to provide additional grants or financial subsidies for training courses available under Skillnets, SOLAS or the education and training boards, which many steel fabricators are now obliged to complete, at considerable cost to themselves, in order for their products to be in line with European Union, Conformité Européene, marking standards, since the implementation of European Union Directive EN-1090-1 in July 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21865/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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My Department funds Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and Institutes of Technology (IoTs) and provides co-financing to Skillnets but does not provide grants to employers to access training for their staff.

In 2015, ETBs and IOTs will offer over 2,000 places on a variety of welding courses.

Fees ranging from €350 to €450, depending on duration and type of course, are typically charged by ETBs to individuals in employment. Most ETB courses are free to unemployed people or those referred by the Department of Social Protection. Fees for IoT courses vary depending on the type of course undertaken.

Subsided training is also provided through two Skillnets networks in Responsible Welding Co-ordinator training.