Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 July 2019
173. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Education and Skills the yield to date in 2019 from the increase in the national training fund levy in budget 2019; the estimated projected end of year yield; the projected yield from a further 0.1% increase in 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30296/19]
View answerAs part of Budget 2018, the National Training Fund (NTF) levy was increased by 0.1 per cent in 2018 from 0.7 per cent to 0.8 per cent – providing over €47m (net) of additional investment in the Higher and Further and Training Education Sectors. On foot of decisions taken in Budget 2019, the levy increased to 0.9 per cent in 2019 providing €69 million (net) of additional investment in higher and further education and training bringing the total expenditure allocation from the NTF to €486 million in 2019. A further increase to 1.0 per cent in 2020 was announced in Budget 2019. There is no further increase in the levy planned beyond the level of 1.0 percent in 2020 and, therefore, no further increases due to levy changes are projected.
Decisions taken as part of Budget 2019 will also see the creation of a new ring-fenced funding line, the Human Capital Initiative, to be established within the NTF to draw down €60 million per annum from the accumulated surplus, over the 5 year period 2020- 2024.
The following table sets out the annual forecasts for NTF levy receipts for 2019 to 20201, based on different levy rates. These forecasts were provided by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection and are based on macroeconomic employment and wage projections.
The net additional expenditure available from increases in the levy are lower than the gross revenue yield as the calculation of such increases must take account of the increased costs which arise for public sector employers. The expenditure ceiling for the NTF is set as part of the Estimates process, having regard to the Government's overall budgetary and fiscal stance, and so the amount available for expenditure in any given year may vary from the forecast income.
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Forecasted Income generated from 0.8% levy |
€589.2m |
€620.1m |
€650.3m |
|
Forecasted Income generated from increase to 0.9% levy from 2019 |
€662.1m |
€703m |
€737m |
|
Forecasted Income generated from increase to 0.9% levy from 2019 & 1% from 2020 |
€662.1m |
€780.5m |
€824.9m |
