Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 June 2025
970. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the reason there is no consistency in numbers from his Department of Skillnet Ireland learners from the 2023 outturn target of 96,646 to the 2024 output target of 82,800 to the slightly increased output target of 84,000 in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32540/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSkillnet Ireland is a business support agency of the Government of Ireland funded by the National Training Fund. The primary objective of Skillnet Ireland is to advance the competitiveness, productivity and innovation of businesses operating in Ireland through enterprise-led workforce development.
Each year my officials in conjunction with Skillnet Ireland determine annual targets that align with the available budget for Skillnet Ireland’s training programmes for those in-employment. The 2024 target for employed learners under Skillnet Ireland’s Training Networks Programme was reduced due to the phasing out of temporary 2023 funding, which had boosted the core budget and enabled higher training outputs that year.
Skillnet Ireland supported 94,808 employed learners in 2023. In 2024, Skillnet Ireland provided upskilling to 88,090 employed trainees, exceeding the 2024 target of 82,000. In 2025 there has been capacity to increase the trainee target to 84,000 due to temporary funding awarded to support upskilling in the housing and offshore wind areas.
The Deputy will appreciate that the figures provided constitute forecasts rather than fixed targets, given that all programmes delivered by Skillnet Ireland are demand-led and subject to variation accordingly.
