John Paul O'Shea (Cork North-West, Fine Gael)
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701. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps are being taken to expand lifelong learning, night courses and upskilling opportunities in further education centres across County Cork, particularly for workers in agriculture, manufacturing and the SME sector. [67286/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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Officials in my Department have engaged with Cork ETB in relation to your question. It advised that it plans its annual FET delivery under an area-based approach, developing individual FET plans for four regions in Cork that align with the Local Community Development Committee areas. The planning for North Cork for 2026 is currently in progress, as in other areas, and involves Cork ETB's FET team in the area liaising and engaging with a wide range of stakeholder groups, including community groups, employers and the Department of Social Protection to determine what courses are in demand and can be incorporated into the plan. The delivery plan is finalised only upon confirmation of the annual budget allocations.

Cork ETB is extremely aware of the challenges for some learners in rural locations in terms of access and transportation to centres, and efforts are made to provide courses in as many locations as is feasible. In recent years, the range of courses offered through the Charleville FET centre has been expanded significantly, and, where possible, additional options will continue to be provided in rural areas. However, it must be noted that there are significant challenges to expanding delivery, and while budgetary considerations are one, more significant challenges arise in terms of availability of suitable premises and qualified staff, the numbers applying in a particular area being sufficient to create a viable class group, and transportation links in the region.

Cork ETB is currently working on its submission to QQI to allow the ETB to extend its scope of delivery to allow for more online and blended programmes and courses, with a particular focus of this application being to address accessibility for learners in rural and more remote locations.

While Cork ETB does engage with Rural Link in terms of transportation provision, and highlights transportation challenges with other agencies, decisions regarding the provision of transport lie with these agencies.