Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 April 2026
3437. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the measures in place to ensure that National Training Fund expenditure is aligned with identified skills shortages in sectors such as construction, healthcare and technology; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23804/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3438. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the plans in place to deploy the current surplus in the National Training Fund; the expected timeframe for this expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23805/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3442. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science whether any emergency or accelerated programmes funded through the National Training Fund are planned to address current labour shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23945/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra3443. Deputy Jen Cummins asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what reforms to the structure or governance of the National Training Fund are under consideration to prevent the accumulation of large unspent surpluses in future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23946/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 3437, 3438, 3442 and 3443 together.
My Department agreed the €1.5 billion National Training Fund (NTF) Surplus Package with the Department of Public Expenditure as part of Budget 2025. This package represents a planned and controlled approach to decelerate the accumulated surplus. It is important to note that this package has been accommodated within my Department’s and the Government’s expenditure ceilings for 2025–2030 and it is additional to core NTF expenditure.
This significant NTF package provides for expenditure into new training and skills provision areas which were not previously funded, including enhanced funding for higher education, research expenditure, including an increase in the PhD stipend and capital expenditure. This is an investment in the future of our workforce and our country and underpins the development of human capital and the delivery of national economic, social and regional development objectives.
Following the President signing of the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act 2025 into law, I was pleased to sign the National Training Fund (Amendment) Act 2025 (Commencement Order) 2026 earlier this year. The reform of the NTF Act is an important milestone for Ireland’s tertiary education and skills future and unlocks any legislative barriers to fully unlocking the surplus package.
The surplus package comprises:
• €885 million current funding including, increasing funding for higher education by a further €150 million per annum by 2030 and one-off current funding for the tertiary sector including skills and apprenticeships via a Skills Package of €235 million.
• €650 million capital uplift to enable skills development, including facilities in the areas of healthcare and veterinary skills and further education skills; supporting universal access to skill provision; and the research sector (including an increase in the PhD stipend).
I am delighted to advise the Deputy that €130 million from the NTF surplus package will support significant investment into the expansion of healthcare education. Ireland is facing an increasing demand for healthcare professionals, particularly in medicine, due to a growing and ageing population and rising healthcare needs. The establishment of two new veterinary schools at Southeast Technological University (SETU) and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) was approved in October 2024, will also be supported by this NTF funding. Expanding the number of training places in healthcare and veterinary programmes is essential to ensure there are sufficient numbers of professionals to meet these growing needs.
In 2026, as part of the NTF Surplus Package, €35 million has been allocated to an NTF Skills Package, in addition to the core NTF expenditure, aimed at supporting upskilling and reskilling initiatives. The 2026 NTF Skills Package prioritises apprenticeships to meet skills needs in the construction sector, aligning with Government priorities and climate commitments. Funding also supports training in Green Skills and Offshore Wind initiatives, and provides additional supports for the Community, Voluntary and Social Enterprise (CVSE) sector and assist the SME sector to upskill and reskill their employees in AI skills.
Advice from the National Skills Council identified AI skills as a critical national capability. In response, SOLAS launched a suite of AI micro-qualifications at level 4 to 6 under its Skills to Advance initiative. These programmes targeted at employees are available across all 16 ETBs.
In addition, I am delighted that SOLAS has developed the national online platform Already.ie to deliver my initiative to support the development of AI and digital skills. These initiatives are aimed at strengthening Ireland’s capacity to meet emerging AI and digital skills needs.
