Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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2008.To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to address a teaching hours matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.[35555/24]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, my Department has invested heavily in Further Education and Training (FET) in the last number of years, increasing FET provision from circa €909 million in 2020 to €1,055 million in 2024 (excluding capital allocation).

As the state agency responsible for the FET sector in Ireland, SOLAS allocates the bulk of this funding to the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETB) to deliver FET programmes and services at local level, based on agreed learner numbers and programmes. SOLAS advise that the 2024 allocation for Kerry ETB is approx. €47 million (increased from approx. €45 million in 2023).

In relation to Tech Amergin FET Centre in Waterville, the initial target was to deliver training to 664 beneficiaries for 2024. Demand has exceeded expectations, with Tech Amergin already delivering training to 564 beneficiaries (85%) by the end of July. In addition, more than 30 courses are due to commence over the remainder of the year, meaning Tech Amergin will exceed its original planned activity in 2024.

Kerry ETB confirmed that its FET funding allocation for 2024 has not been cut and the allocation made provision for the public sector pay increase. Kerry ETB also advised that they will continue to deliver its planned FET provision for the remainder of 2024.