4101. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the current accumulated surplus in the National Training Fund; the amount of that surplus which remained unspent at the end of each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [63528/26]

For the Deputy’s information, my Department lays the National Training Fund (NTF) audited financial statement before the Houses of the Oireachtas in line with the section 2 (14) of the NTF Act, 2000. The C&AG audit these financial statements annually

The table below sets out the annual surplus and the accumulated surplus on the NTF at the end of each of the last three years.

* As per Draft 2025 NTF Annual Accounts currently being audited by the C&AG

Deputy, as set out in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2026, income to the NTF is forecast at €1.326 billion, while expenditure is forecast at €1.153 billion. These forecasts indicate an annual surplus of almost €173 million in 2026 and an accumulated surplus of approximately €2.2 billion. It is important to note, however, that these figures are estimates.

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. As it currently stands, any increase in NTF-funded expenditure must be accommodated within my Department's expenditure ceiling and the overall government expenditure ceiling. In practical terms, this means that additional NTF expenditure would require a corresponding reduction in my Department’s Exchequer-funded expenditure.

I am actively engaging with colleagues across Government, including the Minister for Finance whom I met in June, to discuss the issue of expenditure ceilings that affect the rate at which NTF resources can be deployed. I am keen to make progress on this matter; however, the level of expenditure that can be drawn down is ultimately a matter for Government through the overall fiscal and budgetary framework and it is not determined by my Department alone. Accordingly, while the NTF has a significant accumulated surplus, the existence of that surplus does not provide my Department with additional spending capacity or access to additional funding outside of the agreed fiscal and budgetary framework

It should also be noted that maintaining a prudent reserve, for example an amount equivalent to approximately one year's NTF expenditure, can play an important role in safeguarding against economic and fiscal uncertainty. Such a reserve helps to ensure that sufficient resources are available to sustain education, training and skills programmes during periods of reduced income or increased demand, and supports the continuity of programme delivery over the economic cycle.