Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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The National Training Fund (NTF) was established by the National Training Fund Act 2000 (the Act) as a dedicated fund to support employment-focused training. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (the Department) has responsibility for the management of the fund, and for the related annual financial reporting. Payments may be made from the fund in respect of schemes which are established to: raise the skills of those currently in employment, provide training to those who wish to acquire skills to take up employment, or provide information in relation to existing, or likely future, requirements for skills in the economy.

Two of my Department’s agencies, namely Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, engage with the National Training Fund to avail of funding for training grants to industry. In 2022, €6.5 million was allocated to enterprise agency clients to part-fund training programmes for their employees.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is also funded by the NTF and my Department provides research and secretariat support to the Expert Group. The EGFSN plays a key role in identifying and advising the Government on current and future skills needs, through the undertaking of research, analysis and horizon scanning on current and emerging skills requirements at thematic and sectoral levels. Recently completed and ongoing work being undertaken by the EGFSN includes analyses of skills needs or implications relating to the International Financial Services sector, the BioPharma sector and Modern Methods of Construction.

My Department is represented on the National Training Fund Advisory Board which is chaired by Mr Liam Ryan (Managing Director, SAP Labs Ireland).

Firms have faced a number of challenges in recent years as a result of a series of economic shocks which have resulted in cost increases. In response, Government agreed a package of supports for small and medium sized businesses last week aimed at assisting the SME sector to compete, grow and scale-up, as part of a vibrant enterprise sector which is driving productivity growth and providing high-quality sustainable employment. In addition to these supports, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science will develop proposals for the effective and sustainable use of the €1.5bn surplus in the National Training Fund to future proof workforce skills in SMEs and ensure workers in SMEs can readily access lifelong learning opportunities.