Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 October 2022
132. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way that the €40 million allocated under non-core additional Covid-19 will be spent; if the €40 million is a first or full-year costing; the value in full-year costings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50481/22]
View answerThe €40 million allocated is a full year costing and includes €30m to increase capacity for apprenticeship in 2023, including addressing the backlog on apprenticeship exacerbated by the pandemic. It will provide for an additional estimated 4,000 additional places on craft apprenticeship training and 500 additional places on consortia—led programmes; as well as for the payment of allowances to all craft apprentices while on off-the-job training phases, including the additional 4,000 apprentices.
€3m will provide over 2,000 Skillnet Ireland places to provide upskilling opportunities in emerging technologies and expansion of programmes to include sustainable finance, green technology and responding to climate change.
€4m, comprising €2m each to support the continued implementation of the FET Strategy and Adult Literacy for Life Strategy in the Further Education and Training system.
The final €3m is for Mental Health and Well-being supports under the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework, through a Covid allocation for the 2023/2024 academic year.
