Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 February 2021
576. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the breakdown between expenditure on training for those seeking employment and in employment training; the way in which apprenticeships are categorised; the percentage spent on funding apprenticeships; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8462/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Training Fund (NTF) was established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000 to raise the skills of those in employment, provide training to those who wish to acquire skills for the purposes of taking up employment, and provide information in relation to existing, or likely future, requirements for skills in the economy.
The 2021 NTF allocation of €741.2m will provide €299.8m (40.5%) for programmes for those in employment and €438.2m (59.1%) for programmes relating to skills acquisition for the purposes for taking up employment. €3.2m (0.4%) is provided for the provision of information on skills requirements.
Funding for the apprenticeship programme is provided for in the programmes for those in employment. The training for employment allocation provides €198.4m for the funding of the apprenticeship programme through both SOLAS and the Higher Education Authority. This equates to almost 27% of total NTF expenditure.
