Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 31 January 2017
179. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount of the European Social Fund, ESF, that is being used for local training initiative centres here; the amount of ESF funding that goes towards the Muirhevnamor local training initiative, Muirhevna Park, Dundalk, County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3935/17]
View answerThe current ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 includes an ETB Training for the Unemployed activity. The projects currently selected for support under this activity are Specific Skills Training; Bridging-courses and Traineeships. The Local Training Initiative Programme (LTI) has not, to date, been selected for inclusion in the activity. The ESF Managing Authority, within my Department, and the Operational Programme Monitoring Committee maintains an ongoing overview of the funding allocations under the PEIL and will re-allocate the available funding as required, in accordance with the EU Regulatory provisions, over the lifetime of the PEIL.
The inclusion or otherwise of the LTI in the PEIL for ESF support does not impact on its funding, which is a matter for the relevant ETBs in consultation with SOLAS.
