Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 20 September 2017
218. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 345 of 26 July 2017, if he will provide a copy of the most recent year end report to his Department in respect of funding provided to the IDA outlining its activities and utilisation of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39110/17]
View answer€3m was paid to the IDA from the National Training Fund in 2016. The 2016 report on activity is provided. It should be noted that the IDA Training Grants Programme is also supported through exchequer funding from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.
Training Grants to Industry – IDA Ireland
|
- |
2016 €000 |
2015 €000 |
2014 €000 |
2013 €000 |
2012 €000 |
|
Estimate Provision |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
|
Out-turn |
3,000 |
3000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
3,000 |
|
Surplus / Shortfall |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0.00 |
0.00 |
|
% Variation as a percentage of Allocation |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
0% |
PURPOSE :
The Training Grant programme aims to facilitate a significant upgrade of the skills base of a company. Staff training is viewed as a mechanism to continuously improve a company’s long term competitiveness. Training supports are a key element of IDA's Transformation Agenda.
Main Objectives and Impacts of Companies availing of Training Grants:
In 2013 Forfás carried out an evaluation of IDA Training Grants and found that the main objectives of companies in availing of training grants are:
(i) to alleviate skills deficits;
(ii) to introduce new processes or new products; and
(iii) to raise value added.
Companies ranked the following as the main impacts of the grant:
(i) improved competitiveness;
(ii) increased productivity;
(iii) increased Irish status in the company globally; and
(iv) improved sustainability in Ireland.
In each year 2016, 2015 and 2014 IDA was allocated a grant of €3m from the National Training Fund. In each year training grants were paid over and above the NTF allocation of €3m and were funded from grant provided by DJEI to IDA.
|
NTF |
2016 |
2015 |
2014 |
|
Grants Paid |
€9.718m |
€8.807m |
€5.044m |
|
Companies Supported |
34 |
44 |
32 |
|
No. of Trainees |
9,627 |
8,600 |
7,400 |
