Written answer
Education and Training Provision
The Minister provided Skillnet Ireland’s NTF and matched-funding figures, explaining reduced network funding after temporary Brexit Adjustment Reserve support ended.
4100. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount drawn from the National Training Fund by Skillnet business networks in each of the past three years; the amount of matched private co-funding leveraged in each of those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63529/26]
Comment on this
My Department allocates funding from the National Training Fund (NTF) to Skillnet Ireland, which in turn allocates funding to the Skillnet Networks. The following table sets out the funding allocated by my Department to Skillnet Ireland in each of year from 2023 to 2026. The allocations shown are those provided for in the Revised Estimates for Public Services each year.
Responsibility for determining the allocation of funding to individual Skillnet Networks rests with the Board of Skillnet Ireland. Allocations are made following consideration of funding applications submitted by individual networks and are determined having regard to the available budget, strategic priorities and the anticipated impact of proposed activities.
According to information provided by Skillnet Ireland to my officials, and as reported in its published annual reports, the amount of NTF funding provided to Skillnet Ireland’s business networks, together with matched private enterprise co-funding, is set out in the table below. It should be noted that these figures do not represent the Department's total annual allocation (as set out above) to Skillnet Ireland, which also funds the organisation's administration and overhead costs, as well as a range of national initiatives, including programmes such as MentorsWork and the Climate Ready Academy.
The apparent reduction in funding allocated by Skillnet Ireland to its Networks is primarily due to the inclusion of temporary EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR) funding in 2023. BAR was a temporary EU instrument established to assist Member States in addressing the economic and social impacts of the United Kingdom's withdrawal from the European Union. As a time-limited measure, BAR funding was not available in 2024 and 2025.