Education and Training Boards Data

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 February 2019

Tuesday, 5 February 2019

Questions (238)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

238. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Education and Skills the number of students who have passed the course in the context of the funds in 2016, 2017 and 2018 that ETBs received from an association (details supplied) in order to run the level 5 Quality and Qualifications Ireland training programme; the number of staff required to run the programme; the number of programmes nationally in each of the ETBs; the commencement and end points of the salary scale for the persons staffing the courses; if staff are paid by the ETB; if not, if they are directly employed by the association; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5241/19]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

The training courses that the deputy refers to are run under the Local Training Initiative programme (LTI). This programme is a project-based training and work experience programme carried out in the local community run by local community groups and associations. Staff delivering courses are typically employed by the relevant community group or association. The programme is designed for people who are unemployed, primarily those aged 18 – 35 years who are experiencing difficulty in gaining entry to the labour market due to personal, social or geographic disadvantage. Participants on LTI programmes are entitled to a training allowance and the training is certified and leads to recognised awards on the National Framework of Qualifications at levels 3, 4 and 5. These projects are full-time, 35 hours a week and the duration of the projects varies. Participants must be unemployed and over 16 years of age.

SOLAS allocated over €23m to the 16 Education Training Boards in respect of the Local Training Initiative programme in 2018. This includes funding for the association referred to by the Deputy. The information sought has been requested from the individual ETBs and will be compiled and forwarded to the Deputy when completed.