Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the amount provided to organisations engaged in lifelong learning in 2017; the amount targeted at learners over 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33640/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Goal 2 in the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019 relates to active inclusion which aims to support the active inclusion of individuals of all ages and abilities to participate in further education and training (FET) to enable every citizen to fully participate in society.

Over €800 million will be invested by my Department through SOLAS, for the delivery by Education and Training Boards throughout the country, of a broad range of high quality further education and training programmes that will provide for around 300,000 beneficiaries this year.

While those aged 65 years and over are eligible to participate in further education and training programmes, they are not targeted as a discrete group based on age. However with the exception of the Youthreach programme, which is aimed at early school leavers under 25 years of age, there is no upper age eligibility applicable to FET programmes.

Participation rates within FET by those aged over 65 years are not currently available.  However as the new Programme and Learner Support System (PLSS) which commenced full implementation this year is embedded across FET, it will be possible to provide a vast range of data including information on participant profile.

Through SOLAS, my Department will also provide over €66,000 to Age Action Ireland this year, who provide a range of services to support older people including the provision of training courses.

Recognising the importance of lifelong learning, the National Skills Strategy 2025 has set targets to increase participation rates to 10% in the medium term and to 15% by 2025.  To suit the individual lives of learners of all ages and to support this objective,  the Programme for Government includes the commitment to support an increase in the number of flexible courses available, giving people the opportunity to attend courses part time, during evenings, in the summer and at weekends.  

The 2017 Further Education and Training Service Plan which will shortly be published  by SOLAS will  include information on the range of flexible and part time programmes to be provided.  Further information on these  programmes can now be accessed via the recently launched fetchcourses.ie website.