Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 Jun 2001

Vol. 538 No. 1

Written Answers. - National Training Fund Levy.

Proinsias De Rossa

Question:

76 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the amount raised to date under the national training fund levy; the purposes for which the money has been applied; the way in which decisions are made as to application of these funds; if this money has been used for additional funding for training, rather than simply displacing previous expenditure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17218/01]

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Ms Harney)

The amount raised under the national training fund levy to date is £44.5 million. NTF moneys are being applied to schemes of training in and for employment operated by FÁS, Shannon Development, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland and Skillnets, as set out in the appendix to my Department's Vote in the Estimates. To date FÁS and Shannon Development have drawn down a total of £36.5 million. The balance of moneys in the fund is available for allocation to approved schemes under the fund. Decisions on the application of these moneys were taken as part of the annual Estimates process for 2001.

Section 7 of the National Training Fund Act, 2000 provides that decisions on the schemes to be subvented by the fund are a matter for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, subject to the concurrence of the Minister for Finance in regard to the amounts of moneys to be allocated to particular schemes. The Act also provides that the Minister shall consult with representatives of employers and employees in regard to the functions specified under section 7. I am now in the process of establishing the national training advisory committee which will provide me with high level strategic advice on matters of national training policy and on associated matters relevant to the national training fund. I am in consultation with the social partners in regard to the composition of the committee.

As I indicated during the passage of the National Training Fund Act, 2000, in the initial phase of operation, moneys accruing to the national training fund are being used to subvent existing schemes. However, my intention is that any additional resources accruing to the fund will be channelled into new schemes or the expansion of existing schemes, where relevant.