SOLAS Expenditure

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 December 2017

Tuesday, 5 December 2017

Questions (218)

Catherine Martin

Question:

218. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills his Department's expenditure in the adult education sector over the past five years; the projected additional funding to be provided to the adult education sector in 2018; the investment in each adult education centre in County Wicklow over the past five years; and the projected additional funding for each centre for 2018, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51973/17]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The Department provides funding from the Exchequer and the National Training Fund to SOLAS, the further education and training authority, for the provision of further education and training services.

I can inform the Deputy that the budget allocation for expenditure on further education in each of the years 2013 to 2018 is outlined below:

2011 – 2016 Actual

Year	Expenditure
2013	€639 Million
2014	€612 Million
2015	€597 Million
2016	€613 Million

2017 - 2018 Allocations

Year	Expenditure
2017	€635 Million
2018 Budget (Provisional)	€641 Million

Further Education and Training monies are dispersed to SOLAS, who in turn fund the individual ETBs through an annual planning cycle. Each ETB receives an allocation and it is a matter for each ETB to disburse the funds according to the nature and extent of the Adult and Further Education services to be provided in its area.

My Department does not hold information regarding the investment in each individual Further Education and Training Centre in County Wicklow, this is a matter for Kildare Wicklow Education and Training Board. 

The planning process for 2018 between SOLAS and the individual ETBs is underway, however the allocation for each ETB has not yet been determined.