Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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648. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to provide an indication of the composition of the operational guidelines working group operating under the auspices of Education and Training Boards Ireland; if there is sectorial input from staff currently working within ETB Youthreach designated centres and community training centres that provide the Youthreach programme; how the input data are being gathered; if those data are being gathered through the extended Education and Training Boards Ireland-issued follow-up sectoral response survey last month to the 16 ETBs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20197/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Operational Guidelines Working Group is a sub-group of the Directors of Further Education and Training (FET) Forum created under the auspices of Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI). It comprises nominees from the 16 ETBs, ETBI and SOLAS, a project consultant, and is chaired by an ETB FET Director.

The Working Group is developing updated and revised draft guidelines for Community Training Centres [CTCs], Special Training Provision [STPs] and Local Training Initiatives [LTIs], which are operated under grant agreements by ETBs with second providers.

On approval of the draft guidelines by the FET Directors Forum, the Working Group will commence a phase of extensive consultation with stakeholders including my Department, IACTO, and staff working in the CTCs, STPs and LTIs on the draft guidelines.

I understand that the Working Group plans to hold a webinar for stakeholders to allow for open discussion on the Draft Guidelines and interaction with the group members. A dedicated email address is to be established to gather feedback and observations, which will inform the finalised guidelines.

The recent sectoral response survey is separate to the work of this Working Group. ETBI will consider the individual ETB survey responses and prepare a report for SOLAS and my Department on the issues raised and measures taken in relation to Youthreach.