Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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In the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, there is provision available in relation to the Irish Language. This provision is mainly free or heavily subsidised, and may be available to those in receipt of social welfare payments. This includes courses such as Irish for Beginners, Irish for Parents, Conversational Irish, Irish Language and Culture, etc. The Education and Training Boards (ETBs) are responsible for structuring their provision in terms of learner demand and need, in line with local and national skills priorities. This is completed in tandem with the Strategic Performance Agreements in place between SOLAS and each of the 16 ETBs.

In relation to the Deputy’s specific query about introducing a new Irish-language training course for people in receipt of social welfare payments, this area could be explored as part of the existing engagement channels between my Department, the Department of Social Protection and SOLAS.