I propose to take Questions Nos. 272 and 273 together.
Cavan and Monaghan Education and Training Board (CMETB) received a significant increase in budget allocation from SOLAS in 2020. The funding allocation to CMETB in 2019 was €18,533,460, and the provisional allocation for 2020 is €25,779,000.
A diverse range of full time and part time courses are available across the further education and training (FET) sector and learners commence programmes throughout the year. While there has been a significant increase in CMETB's allocation from 2019 to 2020, it should be noted that the Covid-19 health emergency has affected the diverse range of FET programmes in learners in a number of ways. Funding has been provided to meet Covid costs, including to provide additional supports to learners, but accurate participation figures and a final financial outturn will only be available after year end.
There are no Institutes of Technology in either Cavan or Monaghan at present.