Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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625. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to Limerick county for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5408/17]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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629. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding made available from his Department for tourism and hospitality skills in 2015 and 2016 and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5462/17]

Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department has the overall authority and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy​ here; ​if not, the agency or State body which is responsible for these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5463/17]

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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632. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the body or agency under the aegis of his Department which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here. [5563/17]

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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633. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of tourism and hospitality skills training positions that were allocated by his Department in counties Sligo and Leitrim in 2015 and 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5565/17]

Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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637. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that his Department allocated to the Cork East constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016. [5591/17]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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640. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding allocated to the Cork North-Central constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; the agency or government body which has oversight and responsibility for hospitality and tourism skills development policy here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5685/17]

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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643. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of funding that was allocated to the Cavan-Monaghan constituency for tourism and hospitality skills training in 2015 and 2016 by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5783/17]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 625, 629, 630, 632, 633, 637, 640 and 643 together.

With regard to policy oversight, the Department of Education and Skills has lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and delivers the required education and training through the mainstream higher and further education and training sectors.  The Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" and the Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018, recognises the key role that this training and education plays in ensuring that there is an adequate supply of skilled staff in tourism and to develop talent accordingly.

As regards hospitality and tourism training positions and the funding for same, the Department of Education and Skills oversees the bulk of training provided nationally, channelling funding through its agency SOLAS for further education and through the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for higher education.

In addition to the mainstream higher and further education and training, a limited number of complementary tourism related business development and training supports are provided by Fáilte Ireland, in line with its responsibility for encouraging, promoting and supporting tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.

As this aspect of the matters raised is an operational matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland, I have referred this aspect of the questions asked on to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to those Deputies seeking further detail regarding funding for such supports and the number of positions available.

Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten working days.