Minister Lawless receives Government Approval to bring forward Bill to amend the National Training Fund Act, Unlocking €1.5 Billion for Education and Research
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Ó: An Roinn Breisoideachais agus Ardoideachais, Taighde, Nuálaíochta agus Eolaíochta
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Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD has today obtained Cabinet approval to bring the Bill to amend the National Training Fund (NTF) Act before the Oireachtas.
This legislation will unlock the nearly €1.5 billion funding package, announced in Budget 2025, for the tertiary education sector over a six-year period from 2025 to 2030.
This includes:
- €650m funding package for Higher Education, increasing funding by a further €150m by 2030.
- €600m 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).
- €235m for the tertiary sector as one-off current funding including skills and apprenticeships.
Minister Lawless said:
"The National Training Fund is one of our most powerful tools to support people in gaining the skills they need whether they are retraining, entering the workforce, or progressing in their current role.
"The Fund has played a vital role in helping Ireland weather past economic downturns. However, a considerable surplus has built up, which is why I am taking action now to ensure we invest this money where it is most needed.
"The changes we are making to the legislation are targeted, practical and necessary, and have been agreed with all key stakeholders. They will allow us to make use of the €1.5 billion package announced in Budget 2025, without changing the purpose of the Fund, which remains focused on skills, training and helping people into work.
"This package will help deliver the education, training and research needed to keep pace with a fast-changing world. It will support thousands of learners each year across further and higher education institutions, apprenticeships, and new upskilling pathways, producing skilled graduates who are ready to contribute to a dynamic and competitive economy. It will also support small and medium enterprises by providing upskilling opportunities for employees. Crucially, it will drive innovation and nurture the next generation of research talent, ensuring Ireland continues to grow a workforce that is ready for the future."
Minister Lawless concluded
The aim is to bring this legislation through both houses of the Oireachtas and enact it by the end of the year.
NOTES
The National Training Fund was established by the National Training Fund Act, 2000 as a dedicated fund for 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.
The Act provides for the imposition of a Levy on employers for a group of certain employees. Originally set at 0.7% of reckonable earnings, the rate was increased incrementally by 0.1% over 3 years, from 2018 to 2020, to the 1% rate currently applied following consultation with industry partners.
The accumulated surplus in the Fund is estimated to be approximately €1.8 billion at the end of 2024.