Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
617. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the estimated cost in 2024 if the budget for MentorsWork programme increased by 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49596/23]
View answerMy Department allocates funding to Skillnet Ireland through the National Training Fund. Working with Skillnet Ireland, my Department is committed to supporting the talent needs of the Irish SME sector.
Skillnet Ireland awarded some €1.5m funding to the MentorsWork scheme for 2023. Accordingly, a 50% increase in funding to MentorsWork in 2024 would bring the cost to some €2.25m. As the Deputy will appreciate, the allocation Skillnet Ireland makes for its individual schemes and networks is contingent on the overall funding allocated to it and the effective performance of each Skillnet Network or scheme. Skillnet Ireland will confirm the 2024 budgets for its Networks and Schemes before the end of the year.
