Carol Nolan: Reveals €283m Training Fund Surplus, Demands Action

Thank you. Now, Daphne Nolan. Ar maith agat, Cathaoirleach. Minister, we are told constantly that Ireland must prepare for a changing world automation, green transition, AI and labour market demands. Yet, when we examine how this government is actually managing the National Training Fund, the very tool meant to deliver those skills, an interesting picture emerges. Through a series of parliamentary questions, I have exposed the reality here. In 2025, the National Training Fund ran a surplus of €283 million. Levy income reached €1.297 billion, while spending was just €1.014 billion. Projections show surpluses of €172 million in 2026 and rising to €365 million annually by 2030, while actual training expenditure flatlines. Employers pay the full 1% levy in good faith, yet this money sits unused rather than reaching the front line. IBEC recommended a targeted time-limited rebate in 2022 to help businesses cope with the rising costs, and government refused outright, as the Minister confirmed and reconfirmed this to me recently in a parliamentary question response. But I'm asking for that to be looked at again, because businesses are really struggling, and I think it's a sensible, common-sense proposal put forward by IBEC, a very practical one at that. Instead, we are told that any change is a matter for the estimates process. Meanwhile, rural and domestic SMEs, battered by auto-enrolment, the living wage, pension hikes, get no relief. The neglect of practical, sector-specific training is particularly stark. Look at Farm Business Skillnet, the exact type of close-to-the-labour-market programme IBEC called for. Funding has crawled from €152,124 in 2023 to just €160,000 in 2025. So I'm asking for this to be addressed, and also in terms of apprenticeships, I'm asking for the funding to be made to Phase 2 apprenticeships under LOETB. I visited the Skills Centre just on Monday, and I know Minister Lawless was there, and that's very much appreciated. But also, we also need a STEM officer to continue in their role in Offaly County Council. It's very important that that's also funded. So I'd like to make those calls on behalf of my constituency. Sorry, is my time up? Yeah, I thought my time was up when I heard the bell. Okay, I'll continue. But I would hope that, as I say, the funding for those two positions will be continued, because they've been highly effective. I mean, I saw the apprenticeships in action in the Skills Centre in Tullamore, and it's very, very impressive. And I think we need to become more ambitious, and we need to become like Germany in terms of the range of apprenticeships, and in terms of making sure that apprenticeships are on the same level as degree programmes. And I can see that there has been progress made. In fairness, we have the Skills Centre in Mount Lucas and the LOETB. I want to commend them for all their fantastic work. And it was great to get the opportunity to meet some of the apprentices who were there on Monday. And obviously more women are going into apprenticeships as well, and that was clear to be seen in Tullamore. But I would like to reiterate the call for Phase 2 funding for the apprenticeship programme, and as I say, the STEM officer for Offaly County Council. In terms of, I was just talking about the farm business skill net, and I made reference to that. But it's important that we ensure that the number of farm businesses supported, that that has collapsed and that that needs to be taken on board, that we've seen a collapse from 2,112 to 1,199. And the total funding for all agricultural focus skill net networks has fallen from 2.94 million to 2.61 million. And that is not keeping pace because we really need skills and not paper skills. For an example, the Just Transition is not abstract. Older workers face real disruption from climate policy, technology change and market shifts. And they need targeted, practical upskilling delivered through employer-led networks like skill net and not just box ticking. The National Training Fund, which I have referenced earlier in my speech, it belongs to employers and workers who pay into it. It should not be a slush fund for pet projects. So I call on the Minister to immediately increase core funding to farm business skill net and other rural skill net programmes in addition to the other funding I mentioned that's needed. Go raibh maith agat.