Skillnet Ireland actively supports and works with businesses in Ireland to address their current and future skills needs. Skillnet Ireland fund groups of companies in the same region/sector, and with similar training needs, through training networks that deliver subsidised training to Irish businesses.
Skillnet Ireland networks arrange relevant, cost-effective and innovative training courses for member companies who operate on both a regional and sector-specific basis. The Skillnet Ireland allocation increased in 2019 to €28m allowing for an allocation of €25.649m for Training in Employment and €2.351m for Training for the Unemployed.
The information requested by the Deputy is in the table.
Skillnet Ireland - Member Company profile by business size
Year
|
Annual Funding
|
<10 Employees
|
11-49 Employees
|
50-249 Employees
|
>249 Employees
|
No. of Companies
|
2014
|
€15.69m
|
47%
|
30%
|
8%
|
15%
|
10,879
|
2015
|
€16.2m
|
52%
|
31%
|
12%
|
5%
|
12,861
|
2016
|
€16.2m
|
48%
|
28%
|
16%
|
8%
|
12,997
|
2017
|
€18.2m
|
51%
|
28%
|
15%
|
6%
|
15,012
|
2018
|
€21.7m
|
56%
|
26%
|
13%
|
5%
|
16,462
|
The above funding is received from the Department of Education and Skills via the National Training Fund.
The above data is extracted from the Skillnet Ireland Annual Reports for the financial periods ended 31 December 2014 to 31 December 2018