Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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1055. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will provide an update on the plans to standardise the access and eligibility criteria across ETB YouthReach and Community Training centre YouthReach programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1764/23]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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A key priority of Future FET: Transforming Learning, the National FET Strategy 2020-2024 is to ensure consistency of support for all learners.   SOLAS has recommended that Education and Training Boards (ETBs) should work together to develop and adopt a uniform approach to programme referral and entry into Youthreach based on existing good practice. SOLAS also proposed that the role of Youthreach programme guidelines be reviewed, given the central role of ETB planning and funding parameters in setting requirements from Further Education and Training (FET) provision, and a cross-FET guidebook on programme practice should be developed to ensure clarity around programme expectations leading to clear pathways of progression opportunities for learners.  As the Deputy will be aware, an Operational Guidelines Working Group (OGWG) was established to review the operational guidelines applying to Community Training Centre (CTCs), and Specialist Training Provision as well as Local Training Initiatives  within the FET Sector.  The work of the OGWG is continuing and will inform the revision of the Operating Guidelines.