Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2019
42. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Education and Skills the work the education and training boards undertake in reskilling and further education of the adult population; the way in which this co-ordinates with the work of the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2730/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraEducation and Training Boards offer a broad range of courses serving 320,000 learners each year. These courses seek to develop skills for the economy, to facilitate greater participation in society and to promote personal development.
This Government has a major focus on upskilling and reskilling the working age population. During the recession the focus was mainly on supporting unemployed people back into employment but the approach is now much broader, encompassing those already in employment and those not currently participating in the labour market. This is supported by an expanded and reformed National Training Fund. This year, ETBs are being allocated an additional €11million in funding for the new Skills to Advance policy, which delivers upskilling and reskilling to those in employment with lower skill levels.
ETB courses complement broader upskilling programmes and initiatives, such as Skillnets and Springboard, that play a crucial role in meeting the future skills needs of the economy. ETBs also participate strongly in the nine Regional Skills Fora, enabling them to deliver tailored solutions for employers and groups of employers and give enhanced employment opportunities to learners and upskill the regional workforce.
ETB programmes, alongside employment programmes delivered by DEASP, aim to assist unemployed people into work. ETBs and the Intreo offices work closely together at local level to develop and schedule FET provision to match the requirements of unemployed people. This collaboration is supported by protocols covering course provision, the referral of learners to programmes and a formal schedule of engagements between the agencies.
