Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
3435. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the total amount currently held in the National Training Fund; the reason a surplus of approximately €2 billion has accumulated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23802/26]
View answer3439. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the legislative or administrative barriers that have limited the drawdown of National Training Fund resources; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23806/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3435 and 3439 together.
In line with section 2 (14) of the Act, the Comptroller and Auditor-General (C&AG) audits the National Training Fund (NTF) accounts annually. The NTF accumulated surplus for 2025 is expected to rise to circa €2 billion at the end of 2025, subject to the C&AG audit of the 2025. It should be noted that a prudent level of reserves (such as an amount equivalent to a year’s expenditure) in the NTF is necessary to guard against the uncertainties of the economic cycle and to ensure sufficient resources are available to deliver programmes when required. On four occasions in the past, where NTF expenditure has exceeded income, the accumulated surplus was used to address the annual shortfall. The last time that expenditure exceeded income was in 2014.
I can assure the Deputy that expenditure under the NTF is being incurred fully in accordance with the purposes of the Act and that my Department will not be found wanting in this regard; however, all expenditure remains subject to, and must operate within, the overall fiscal and budgetary parameters agreed by Government. I have previously advised that any increase in NTF expenditure, all other things being equal and without a corresponding reduction on the Vote, requires an increase in my Department’s and overall Government expenditure ceilings.
