Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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537. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will consider extending criteria of eligibility for training supported under the national training fund; if he has considered a review of same; and if he has engaged with industry to see how best to utilise this fund to ensure the workforce is equipped for Ireland’s modern economy of today and into the future. [53341/22]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The National Training Fund (NTF) was established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000, as a dedicated fund to support the training of those in employment and those seeking employment. The Act also provides for the funding of research to provide information on existing and likely future skills requirements of the economy. As such the scope of the NTF is very broad and a wide range of activities are funded by the NTF, such as apprenticeship, the Springboard Programme and Skillnet Ireland’s Business Networks.

The independent review of the NTF by Indecon Consultants in 2018 made a range of recommendations to enhance the effectiveness of the NTF and to reflect the requirements for increased funding for Higher Education and for targeted labour market focussed skills development. An Advisory Group has been established in line with the recommendations. This group comprises key stakeholders from a range of employer representatives, agencies and Government Departments.

As the Deputy may be aware the cumulative surplus on the NTF at end 2021 was €1,102m and the projected annual surplus for 2022 as set out in the Revised Estimates for 2022 was €88.7m but is likely to be higher when all receipts and expenditure fall due. The Advisory Group has recommended that the growing surplus be used to address the skills challenges in the labour market. However, any increase in NTF expenditure, all other things being equal and without a corresponding reduction on the Vote, requires an increase in my Department and overall Government expenditure ceilings. NTF expenditure increases general Government expenditure and can only be accommodated within the fiscal strategy agreed by Government.

My Department has been working closely with other Departments to develop options for the application of the NTF to support skills priorities and develop the quality of the workforce. With regard to the latter an expanded mandate for Skillnet Ireland in leading workforce development as the Government agency with extensive partnerships with industry and employees is envisaged. The OECD is currently conducting a review of Ireland’s approach to skills planning and development. These and other developments will support further policy consideration by Government of our skills priorities and investment strategy, including the role of the NTF.