Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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233. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is a current surplus in the national training fund; the expected increases in the fund; if there is a surplus projected in the fund; if there is further projected spending of the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37583/16]

Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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234. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the details of the spend from the national training fund and the projected spend in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37584/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 233 and 234 together.

The amount collected by the employment levy for the National Training Fund (NTF) varies due to changes in numbers of people in employment. Receipts went from a high of €413m in 2008 to €299m in 2012.  Receipts then increased to €364m in 2015 and are expected to be up to €383m this year.  It is expected that there will be a surplus of €217m in the fund at year end and €272m at the end of 2017.

A total of €362million was allocated from the National Training Fund for training and services this year and a similar amount has been provided for 2017.  It should also be noted that NTF funding forms part of the Department’s annual overall expenditure ceiling and any increase in NTF expenditure would have to be offset by reductions in expenditure elsewhere.

In 2016 the allocation from the NTF is almost €83 million for training for the employed and almost €279 million for training for unemployed people.  There will be a rebalancing of this funding in 2017, with greater provision for programmes for people in employment such as apprenticeship and programmes run by Skillnets.  Demand for these programmes are rising as apprenticeship registrations rise, new apprenticeships are developed and greater numbers of employers engage with Skillnets.  Demand for training for unemployed people is reducing as unemployment continues to fall.

In accordance with the NTF Act the surplus remains in the accounts of the National Training Fund. In the past, the accumulated surplus in the fund has been important in maintaining expenditure levels, particularly in the provision of training for the unemployed, in periods when receipts fell.