Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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2720. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if funding will be allocated to a service (details supplied) to allow this service to reopen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46141/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Education and Training Boards (ETBs) support community groups by funding training projects aimed at helping individuals facing exclusion or labour market disadvantage.

One such training project is the Local Training Initiative (LTI). LTIs are delivered by third-party providers, tailored to meet specific community needs. They operate on an annual funding cycle, aligned with the academic year. LTIs are not automatically renewed, and funding is not guaranteed from one year to the next. They are reviewed annually by ETBs for effectiveness and the continued need for provision.

I understand that the decision to conclude the current iteration of the LTI was not made lightly by Cork ETB and that it followed careful consideration and dialogue with Cumann na Daoine.

While Cork ETB is not in a position to continue funding this particular LTI beyond its current term, it has informed my Department that it remains committed to developing alternative options, taking into account the profile of prospective learners, the needs of the community, and other provision available in the town. In addition, Cork ETB has advised that funding for the two staff members involved in the delivery of the programme will be maintained until October 2025 to allow time for the development of an alternative proposal for delivery.

As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister, I have no role in the operational day-to-day running of ETBs as the scheduling and programming of courses is a matter for each ETB, subject to the available budget and local needs. As the state agency responsible for the further education and training sector, SOLAS allocates funding to 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver FET programmes. Each ETB must prioritise and manage delivery of further education and training programmes strictly within their allocated budget.