Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
3436. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of National Training Fund resources allocated annually over the past five years; the proportion of these funds directed towards in-employment training and upskilling; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23803/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3441. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the proportion of National Training Fund expenditure allocated to higher education institutions as opposed to direct workforce training;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23808/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 3436 and 3441 together.
For more than twenty-five years, the National Training Fund (NTF) has been a strategic national asset for re-skilling and up-skilling of the workforce and supporting Ireland’s skills needs. Section 7 of the NTF Act 2000 sets out the purposes for which the NTF can be used to fund schemes, which are established to:
• raise the skills of those in employment,
• provide training to those who wish to acquire skills to take up employment, or
• provide information in relation to existing, or likely future, requirements for skills in the economy.
In 2026, over €1 billion is allocated to current expenditure, with a further €75 million for capital expenditure, bringing the total NTF allocation to circa €1.154 billion, an increase of €118 million on 2025.
The NTF expenditure and allocation figures are reported annually within the Revised Estimates Volume for Public Services (REV) presented to the Dáil, and the NTF Financial Statements are formally laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas in accordance with the NTF 2000 Act.
Table 1 in the attached spreadsheet sets out the NTF current allocations including the allocation for in-employment training and upskilling in the REV for the past five years, 2021 to 2025, with 2026 provided for information. The priorities underpinning the NTF have changed and varied over time, depending on economic cycles and skills demands on the economy. Between 2014 and 2026, the funding priorities of the NTF have evolved. Provision for upskilling of those in employment has increased from circa 17.7% (€61 million) of total NTF allocation in 2014, to circa 49% (€527 million) of total NTF allocation in 2026. This shift in provision between 2014 and 2026 reflects Ireland’s transition from emerging out of recession into a sustained period of economic recovery and growth, as evidenced by the strong performance of the labour market and the increasing policy focus on upskilling those already in employment.
The table shows that the current allocations for training in employment programmes have increased steadily from 2021 to 2026, rising from €741.3 million to circa. €1.08 billion. Over the same period, funding for training in employment programmes grew both in absolute terms and as a share of total allocations, increasing from 40.4% in 2021 to nearly 49% in 2026, reflecting a strengthening policy emphasis on supports for employees including apprenticeships. The increase of over €188 million in apprenticeship funding during this period reflects the Government priorities on housing delivery and climate action, consistent with the Action Plan for Apprenticeships 2021–2025, and supports the scaling-up of apprenticeship provision in construction, retrofit, and green skills to address critical skills shortages and meet national housing and climate targets.
Funding from the NTF for the higher education sector is provided to meet labour-market skills needs and is fully in accordance with the purposes of the Act. The provision of skilled graduates through the higher education system is critical for enterprise growth, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
Table 2 shows that overall funding for higher education programmes 2021 to 2026 increased by €78 million. The HEA has benefited from a significant increase in funding for apprenticeships, from €56 million in 2021 to over €113 million in 2026. Springboard+ benefited from time bound funding increases to address Covid 19 related labour market disruption, while the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) was a five-year, time limited programme running from 2020 to 2025; HCI was particularly successful, with the development and mainstreaming of micro credentials emerging as one of its key legacy outcomes. Micro credentials offer employees flexible, job-relevant upskilling while enabling employers to address specific skills needs efficiently.
In addition, the NTF surplus funding package is supporting research investment, including funding of €18 million to increase PhD stipends for 3,000 doctoral students and €20 million for Research Ireland’s doctoral research centres, which form a key talent and skills pipeline for Ireland’s innovation system.
Table 1: NTF Non-Capital Allocations 2021-2026
|
Year |
€'000 |
IN Employment Programmes |
% |
|
2021 |
741,273 |
299,792 |
40.44% |
|
2022 |
765,073 |
319,522 |
41.76% |
|
2023 |
900,771 |
370,528 |
41.13% |
|
2024 |
920,253 |
403,085 |
43.80% |
|
2025 |
1,009,982 |
464,439 |
45.98% |
|
2026 |
1,078,627 |
526,665 |
48.83% |
Table 2: Higher Education Allocations 2021-2026
|
|
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
2026 |
|
Higher Education Programmes |
Grantee |
€'000 |
€'000 |
€'000 |
€'000 |
€'000 |
€'000 |
|
Apprenticeships |
HEA |
56,000 |
56,500 |
72,140 |
76,210 |
92,312 |
113,301 |
|
Enterprise Focused Higher Education |
HEA |
148,352 |
148,352 |
148,352 |
148,352 |
198,352 |
198,352 |
|
Research |
Research Ireland |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
38,000 |
|
Springboard+ |
HEA |
41,438 |
41,438 |
34,438 |
34,438 |
34,438 |
34,438 |
|
Human Capital Initiative |
HEA |
60,000 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
60,000 |
0 |
0 |
|
Total |
|
305,790 |
306,290 |
314,930 |
319,000 |
325,102 |
384,091 |
