Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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95. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if it will be investigated if Fingal would benefit from the development of a training centre under the training centre program offered by the Dublin and Dún Laoghaire Education and Training Board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43172/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department have enquired with Dublin and Dun Laoghaire Education and Training Board (DDLETB) regarding this matter.

DDLETB currently offers training centre programmes in the Fingal area through Baldoyle Training Centre. The Training Centre facilitates over 2,500 learner beneficiaries annually. Programmes are offered on-site in Baldoyle and also across a range of locations in Fingal including Swords, Blanchardstown and Balbriggan.

As part of their 2018-2020 Performance Agreement with SOLAS, DDLETB committed to review and realign their Further Education and Training (FET) provision to ensure that the courses offered are relevant and responsive to the needs of learners across the entire catchment area, to work closely with both employees and employers to address their upskilling needs, and to ensure that more FET provision is located in the most densely populated areas, and in particular in Fingal.

DDLETB's plans for increased provision in Fingal are directly aligned with the strategic direction of local government. DDLETB is a lead partner in the development and implementation of the Fingal Skills Strategy 2019-2023and the Balbriggan Socio-Economic Strategy 2019-2025.

In order to progress this commitment, DDLETB is in the process of leasing some additional space for the adult education service in Swords and exploring Apprenticeship expansion in Baldoyle. DDLETB will continue to work closely with both SOLAS in progressing the national Further Education & Training Strategy 2020-2024 and expanding provision in the Fingal area.