Written answer
Education and Training Provision
The Department has not assessed how many Skillnet networks exhausted funding or how many enterprises were affected by capped, delayed or cancelled training. Skillnet Ireland reported strong oversubscription, with networks deferring activity or referring businesses to other providers; its core funding rose 43.5% since 2020.
4099. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if the Department has assessed the number of Skillnet business networks that exhausted their allocations before year end in each of the past three years; the number of enterprises affected by capped places, delayed training or cancelled courses as a result; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63530/26]
Comment on this
Skillnet Ireland is a valued strategic partner in advancing workforce development and promoting lifelong learning across the country. My Department provides funding through the National Training Fund (NTF) to Skillnet Ireland to support the competitiveness, productivity and innovation of Irish enterprises through enterprise-led workforce development and skills initiatives. Since the creation of my Department in 2020, core funding for Skillnet Ireland has increased by 43.5%, from €35.9 million in 2020 to €51.5 million in 2026. This reflects the Government’s commitment to enterprise-led workforce development.
Skillnet Ireland operates a co-funding model whereby State investment through the NTF is matched by contributions from participating enterprises. Deputy, it is important to recognise that while NTF funding and Exchequer Vote funding are distinct funding streams, they are treated as a single expenditure envelope for my Department for budgetary and Government accounting purposes. Consequently, any increase in NTF-funded expenditure by my Department must be accommodated within its overall expenditure ceiling and requires a corresponding reduction in expenditure elsewhere within my Department's Exchequer Vote allocation.
My Department has not undertaken an assessment of the number of Skillnet Ireland business networks whose budgets were fully assigned before year-end in any of the past three years, nor has it assessed the number of enterprises affected by capped places, delayed training or cancelled courses as a result. Skillnet Ireland is responsible for the management and allocation of funding across its business networks including monitoring programme delivery and performance. While Skillnet Ireland regularly monitors network activity, it advised my officials that business networks should not schedule a training programme if their training budget had been fully committed or expended.
Skillnet Ireland further advised that funding calls are regularly oversubscribed, reflecting strong demand from businesses for upskilling and workforce development supports. Where network budgets have been fully assigned, networks may defer activity to subsequent periods or direct enterprises towards alternative training and skills supports This can include referrals to Regional Skills Fora and other provision within the wider skills ecosystem, including Education and Training Boards and Higher Education Institutions.
More broadly, Skillnet Ireland continues to support significant levels of enterprise engagement and training delivery. Over the period 2023 to 2025, Skillnet Ireland supported more than 73,000 companies and 272,000 trainees through approximately 31,000 training and upskilling programmes.