Mattie McGrath warns of cuts to Tipperary local training initiatives

Minister, on Friday and last, the management of the Tipperary ETB shared devastating news with the local training initiative coordinators, LTIs, at the four centres in South Tipperary. They informed them that due to budgetary constraints from SOLUS, the very LTI programmes that this centre will seize come to the end of this existing term, this is shocking news. Tipperary ETB made it clear that they have received a challenging budget allocation from SOLUS for 2025, and despite ongoing engagement, they have been unable to secure enough funding to sustain the current level of further education training programmes, and following a review of the funding, they have taken the decision to discontinue the NTIs. This is a great step minister, and thank you, I understand you met the chair of the ETB in Tipperary and some officials yesterday. Care Development Association, Sparefield Family Resource Centre, Castle, not an only resource in the Tipperary Town, and little in the community programme, are the full consent. However, the NTIs cannot be lost. These are an essential lifeline and pathway to continuing education for any school leavers. Some who might not have a student mainstream education, and some who are returning now to education, and many have progressed spectacularly. Minister, I have spoken to many people today who are affected by this decision. Learners whose future have been pulled from them, with the news that the course has been, they enrolled in, has been pulled like this. And very dedicated tutors, I want to salute the tutors, and the people who are so interested in these people progressing. It's really, really, really, you know, it's just sad. Earlier today, I met a former NTI participants who completed the programme in care, Intervie Centre. They now work in the very same Intervie Centre, and, you know, I'm so pleased that they got that second chance, opportunity, to better themselves when they might not have been able to do so at mainstream school. Minister, I'm pleading with you to engage with Solace, to review the funding allocations for Tipperary ETB and this programme, and to have it restored. It is my belief that Tipperary ETB are a victim of their own success, because they have so many different courses and programmes. But this is not the one to take away. And none of them want to be taken away, obviously, for further learning. But this is the one. These are the very people that we talk about that are on the margins and haven't been able to come to. And we're giving them a second chance. And it's wonderful. I've been at so many ceremonies, presentation of sets, the pride in their faces, the pride in their families' faces, that they've got a second chance. And now back in full-time employment, thanks to the lifeline of the LTI. So it's so important, Minister. I know you understand that yourself, from your own area in St. Igo, and you're very compassionate here on this issue. So please, Minister, we have to go back to the drawing board. Thank you, Laskan, and thank you to both deputies for raising this issue. And yes, I had a really positive meeting yesterday with Tipperary ETB, and I can say I was really encouraged to see the good work ongoing. But we also had a good conversation and agreed there are challenges, and what we're trying to do is work to manage those challenges in the best way possible. Now, deputies, just to come to the issue that you've raised here, education and training boards, as you know, support community-based groups by providing funding for intervention projects that provide a range of learner-centered training and related services. And these initiatives aim to assist individuals or groups experiencing exclusion and labour market disadvantage to either enter or re-enter the labour market. As you both said, these are very important initiatives. Now, these local training initiatives, or LTIs, are one example of this kind of initiative. However, by their nature, LTIs are temporary and often high-cost initiatives designed to meet specific community needs. As the state agency responsible for further ed and the training sector, Solis allocates funding to 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver FED programmes. Each ETB has to prioritise and manage delivery of further education and training programmes strictly within their allocated budget. Solis has provided an allocation of £35.5 million to Tipperary ETB for 2025. This is an increase of nearly 22% of funding provided since 2020. This funding supports over 9,600 learner enrolments in FET. Activities funded range from PLC to youth reach to apprenticeships to reskilling and upskilling courses and adult literacy courses, including English language tuition. Tipperary ETB have advised my officials that a comprehensive review of all FED provision was undertaken to ensure alignment with the available budget. Further to this review, Tipperary ETB have advised that they have made the very difficult decision not to continue funding several local training initiatives. This affects four, located in Littleton, Caire, Cashel and Tiptown. These LTIs are funded on an annual basis and subject to a business review. Tipperary ETB has met with all four LTIs in question and informed them of the funding position for the remainder of 2025 and it is now a matter for each of these boards to consider their options. Tipperary ETB informed my department that no current learners are impacted, as all have completed their programmes. The impact is on the availability of places for new learners for the remainder of 2025. I am not minimising that, deputies, I am just telling you what the situation is. I hope you will appreciate that the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has no role in the day-to-day operational management of ETB boards, which are independent statutory bodies. In line with its functions set out in the Act of 2013, it is the responsibility of each board to plan and deliver services throughout the year, subject to their available budget and local needs. Tipperary ETB have advised the department officials that due to high costs and low learner numbers associated with delivering these four LTI programmes, it has taken a very difficult decision not to renew funding for 2025, while it assesses its priorities and community needs in line with available funding. Deputy Mayor. Good Minister, I am disappointed to hear that, it is a misunderstanding, clearly, because there are students who have enrolled for September next year, so that is inaccurate information that you have been supplied by Tipperary ETB. Minister, I just quote you a comment from Leonard A. The course has made me come out of my shell a lot and it is the best thing I have done. Everyone was friendly in the work and it was really, really fun. The course helped me to become more confident and helped me to find a path. That's just one of the participants. Leonard 2. Looking back, the girl was last year and the person I am now. This is what she said. I realise that there is a big change and I have to thank the LTI coordinators. They have done so much. I spoke to them today. There are members, they have enrolled for September, so that is not true information. So I am pleading to you, and Minister, what I said to you, my focal score, as I am sharing with Deputy Murphy, the National Training Fund was established by the National Training Fund Act 2000 as a dedicated fund for schemes and established two, and this is the aims, raise the skills of those in employment and provide training to those who wish to acquire skills. So this fund now can be used by the department to support Tipper Air ETB and the other ETBs as well throughout the country. So I am appealing to you to go back to the drawing board and try and make sure that these people are allowed to continue in their career path. The Minister? Thank you, Oscar and Corlan. Look, deputies, I fully recognise the value of these courses. Just to be clear, deputies, what Tipper Air ETB informed my department is that no current learners are impacted as they have completed their programmes, but you are quite right in saying that the impact is on the availability of places for new learners for the remainder of 2025. So you are quite right in saying that. And look, what I can just say to you, that my department is committed to supporting a Fed system that helps individuals succeed, that boosts economic growth and prepares our workforce for the challenges and opportunities ahead. And this commitment is underpinned by a significant investment of over €1 billion in 2025. And while the Fed system is demand-driven, education and training boards have to operate within their allocated budgets. And look, as I outlined in my opening remarks, planning and delivery of services by education and training boards is rightly a matter for each individual board, taking into account their allocated budgets and the specific needs of their local communities. And I think that the deputy would agree that it would not be practical nor appropriate for a minister to become involved in the day-to-day operational decisions of these autonomous bodies. But I do recognise what you are saying, deputies. As I said, I had a great meeting yesterday with Tipper Airy ETB. I see the valuable and important work they are doing. But they have made this decision at this point within the resources that have been allocated to them, and it is their responsibility to do that. But I hear what you are saying and I thank you for your intervention and for highlighting these really important courses, the value of these courses and the impact that they make on people's lives. Thank you, Minister. Thank you, Minister.