934. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures taken to support the further education sector since January 2025; his priorities for same for the rest of 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53482/26]

My Department is committed to supporting a Further Education and Training (FET) sector that helps individuals succeed, drives economic growth, and prepares our workforce for future challenges while strengthening communities across the country.

This commitment is reflected in the significant investment being made in FET in 2026. My Department allocates funding to SOLAS to support the delivery of FET programmes and services across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) and other agencies nationwide.

Overall investment of over €1.2 billion has been allocated for the FET sector in 2026, of which almost €1.1 billion has been distributed to ETBs to deliver a broad range of FET programmes.

Since 2020, overall investment in SOLAS has increased by €394 million, excluding capital funding, representing a 47% increase.  SOLAS has advised that 224,676 learners participated in FET in 2025, with many undertaking more than one course.  Almost 390,000 FET learner places were provided throughout the year, demonstrating the vital role FET plays in workforce upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning.

Apprenticeships remain central to Ireland’s skills strategy and key Government priorities in housing and climate action.  The Government is committed to developing an apprenticeship system that meets Ireland’s current and future skills needs. Nearly 90 apprenticeship programmes are now available, with more in development, to address emerging workforce demands and technological change.

Recent examples include the Social Care apprenticeship, developed by UCC and MTU, in response to growing demand in the care sector, and ATU’s new Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Civil Engineering by Apprenticeship, providing a progression pathway from Levels 6 to 8 on the NFQ, while also supporting national housing and infrastructure goals. A new Robotics and Automation apprenticeship that I recently launched at Louth Meath ETB, further demonstrates how apprenticeships are helping industry adapt to a rapidly changing industrial landscape.

The work to expand apprenticeship opportunities is underpinned by sustained Government investment. Since the formation of my Department in 2020, investment in apprenticeship delivery has more than doubled, from €184 million in 2020 to €415 million in 2026. In terms of apprentice registrations, by the end of 2025 there were 9,461 registrations, an increase of 78% from 5,326 in 2020.  Building on this progress, the next Action Plan for Apprenticeship (2026-2030) will support further expansion of the system and delivery of the Programme for Government target of 12,500 annual registrations by 2030, with two-thirds in craft and construction-related areas.  I look forward to publishing this new Action Plan later this year.

This Government continues to invest significantly in workforce development to support housing delivery and climate action through Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and green skills initiatives. In 2025, funding provided to SOLAS and Skillnet Ireland was used to advance MMC adoption, enable new training programmes via the MMC Skills Pathway Portfolio and the roll out of the MMC Accelerate platform. The platform showcases MMC projects, career pathways and highlights education and upskilling provision. Budget 2026 continues this progress with an investment of €1.75 million for MMC skills development, supporting programme expansion, mobile training rigs and MMC Accelerate platform enhancements. This investment will ensure that the workforce is further equipped with the skills required to deliver Government priorities for residential construction.

Investment is also strengthening green skills development, which is essential to achieving Climate Action Plan targets. Funding in 2025 to SOLAS and Skillnet Ireland supported the expansion of skills training essential for the green transition. This included investment in areas such as offshore wind, retrofitting, electro-mobility and supporting the implementation of Green Skills 2030 - the first National FET Strategy for the Green Transition. Budget 2026 reinforces this focused approach with €2.05 million provided to deliver programmes in sectors highlighted by Green Skills 2030, a FET-version of the successful Springboard+ programme, the Skillnet Offshore Wind Academy and the first iteration of the Offshore Wind Training hub.

Supporting learners with disabilities remains a key priority for my Department, in line with the Programme for Government. €5.7 million is allocated to the Fund for Students with Disabilities, which supports learners to participate in Post-Leaving Certificate courses. In Budget 2026, I secured an additional €2 million to support transport costs for students with intellectual disabilities participating across a range of FET courses.

Budget 2026 also ensures the continuation of specialist supports for students with disabilities in FET, including Specialist Training Provision delivered on behalf of ETBs through the National Learning Networks and other providers. Improving accessibility in mainstream FET for all learners is a key priority in 2026, with ETBs working with AHEAD to continue to expand their capacity to enact Universal Design for Learning and to make Reasonable Accommodations.

The recently launched FET Strategy 2026–2030 sets out a clear roadmap for a future-focused FET system that promotes economic prosperity, social inclusion, lifelong learning and career development. My Department is also progressing the development of the new FET College model and supporting broader sectoral reform.

Capital investment is continuing through the FET College of the Future Fund, with twelve major projects currently progressing to improve infrastructure and enhance learner facilities nationwide.

Finally, the Tertiary Education Strategy 2026–2031 will align FET, higher education, and research to tackle challenges such as climate change and digital transformation. Built around four pillars - Competitiveness, Equality, System Performance, and Lifelong Learning - it will ensure Ireland harnesses the full potential of its further and higher education and research systems.

Together, these investments and reforms demonstrate the Government's commitment to ensuring that the FET sector remains accessible, responsive and equipped to meet Ireland's evolving skills and workforce needs.