Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 27 March 2025
14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will intervene to ensure that adult education classes proceed this term through Cavan Monaghan ETB. [13717/25]
View answerI am sure that the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister, I have no role in the operational day-to-day running of Education and Training Boards (ETBs) as the scheduling and programming of courses is a matter for each individual ETB, subject to their available budget and local needs.
My Department has significantly increased its investment in further education and training by nearly €250 million in the years from 2020 to 2025. As the state agency responsible for the further education and training sector, SOLAS allocates this funding to 16 ETBs and other agencies to deliver FET programmes, based on agreed targets including learner numbers. It is the responsibility of each ETB to ensure that they align their activities and provision throughout the year with the funding allocated by SOLAS.
Cavan and Monaghan ETB have informed my Department that a wide range of adult education programmes are planned, and indeed already underway, in 2025. It envisages that there will be no reduction in the programmes on offer in 2025, subject to their allocation from SOLAS. In 2024, Cavan and Monaghan ETB Adult Education Services delivered over 700 programmes and it is planned to deliver a similar level of provision in 2025.
I understand that in 2024, Cavan and Monaghan ETB postponed or reduced some planned provision to remain within their overall budgetary allocation. My Department secured additional funding in the supplementary estimates which allowed Cavan and Monaghan ETB to recommence a certain number of courses.
