Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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1130. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if the two new skills programmes to assist the hospitality and tourism sectors (details supplied) will be expanded to include funding supports for food safety and Covid-19 training for food workers in the hospitality industry as a priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14883/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Skills to Advance policy framework was launched in 2018. The framework provides guidance, direction and targets for Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in supporting the upskilling of those in employment, working both directly with learners and through their employers

The two customised programmes, referred to by the Deputy,  were developed by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority of Ireland, within the hospitality and tourism sector under the Skills to Advance initiative. These programmes were developed with the aim of assisting recovery, growth and the retention of key talent in the sector by providing upskilling opportunities for employees in team leadership and supervisory management.

Skills to Advance, as an initiative targeted at people in employment and where benefit accrues to employers, is subject to state aid regulations.  This means that mandatory training such as food safety training cannot be delivered through the programme.  However, such training can sometimes be availed of through other provision offered by ETBs and further information can be found on www.gov.ie/therightcourse or www.fetchcourses.ie.

Covid- 19 training is being provided for workers in hospitality and other sectors across ETBs funded by the Skills to Advance initiative and information on this is also available at the links above.