Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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377. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures that are being taken by her Department to promote and maintain the growth of the ETB sector (details supplied). [62261/22]

Norma Foley (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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I fully recognise the important role of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in the education sector.

The 16 ETBs were established in July 2013 under the provisions of the Education and Training Boards Act, 2013.ETBs carry out their duties in relation to the provision of education in accordance with the ETB Act 2013 and under the legislation that established SOLAS in relation to further education and training.

The ETB sector has undergone very significant reform and growth over the last decade and an extensive range of supports and measures have been put in place by my Department to support ETBs in their work and to ensure improved governance and oversight of the sector.

This includes annual funding of over €1 billion provided by my Department directly to ETBs, supports for Education and Training Boards Ireland, improved governance arrangements and the consolidation of finance systems and roll-out of payroll shared services across the sector.

My Department will continue to work closely with the sector to ensure that ETBs are supported in carrying out their important functions in relation to the provision of high quality education to their students.