Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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977. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there will be an increase of funding from the National Training Fund for training grants to industry from the current amount of €6,500 since 2024 and 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32590/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides funding from the National Training Fund (NTF) to support the Training Grants to Industry scheme, delivered through Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland. The scheme enables businesses to respond to evolving workforce development needs through upskilling and reskilling initiatives.

In 2025, €3.5 million from the NTF is allocated to Enterprise Ireland for management development and training for Irish enterprises, while €3 million is allocated to IDA Ireland to support training grants for FDI companies, helping address skills gaps and maintain global competitiveness.

It is important to note that any increase in NTF expenditure, all other things being equal and without a corresponding reduction on the Vote, requires an increase in the Department’s and the overall Government expenditure ceilings. In addition, as the Deputy will appreciate, decisions on budget allocations will be made in the context of Government decision-making on the fiscal and expenditure framework for 2026, consistent with the budgetary and Estimates process to be agreed by Government in the coming weeks.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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978. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department plans to increase the current estimate of funding from the National Training Fund for Springboard of €27,550 since 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32591/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Funded by the National Training Fund (NTF) and managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department, Springboard provides free or heavily subsidised upskilling and reskilling opportunities and builds the supply of skilled graduates to meet the evolving needs of the Irish economy. The 2025 allocation provides €27.55 million to improve the skills of those currently in employment whilst an additional allocation of €6.89 million will assist individuals in returning to employment.

It is important to note that any increase in NTF expenditure, all other things being equal and without a corresponding reduction on the Vote, requires an increase in the Department’s and the overall Government expenditure ceilings. In addition, as the Deputy will appreciate, decisions on budget allocations will be made in the context of Government decision-making on the fiscal and expenditure framework for 2026, consistent with the budgetary and Estimates process to be agreed by Government in the coming weeks.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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979. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the plans his Department has to address the significant decrease in funding for the financial and human resource inputs for universities, technological universities and other bodies from €1,615,464 in 2024 to €1,468,309 in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32592/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2025 and the allocations under my Department’s B4 subhead.

The B4 subhead is used to fund current activities in higher education institutions. The provision of higher education funding on an annual basis, is part of overall expenditure management and budgetary policy of the Government.

In considering the specific matters raised, it is important to distinguish between recurrent funding allocations and the impact of supplementary or temporary provisions. Each year, my Department receives a core recurrent allocation that is considered as part of the annual Budget negotiations. Separately, my Department may receive additional allocations through supplementary funding that only applies in the calendar year to which it is received.

In 2024, funding for the B4 subhead amounted to €1,380,683,000. This figure was supplemented by a further €234,781,000, bringing the final 2024 allocation to €1,615,464,000. The additional supplementary funding was used to meet costs such as, once off cost-of-living measures, Ukrainian supports, and pay costs.

As the Deputy has highlighted, the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services 2025, provides for an allocation of €1,468,309,000 under subhead B4. This is an increase of €87,626,000 or 6.35% on the equivalent 2024 allocation of €1,380,683,000.

Details of future funding allocations for 2026, including the consideration of potential supplementary estimates that may arise in 2025, will be considered as part of the upcoming Budget 2026 negotiations.