The Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairí Quinn T.D., has today announced the transfer of seven SOLAS training centres to four recently established Education and Training Boards (ETBs).
Under the transfer announced today, two training centres, in Ballyfermot and Finglas, will come under the auspices of City of Dublin ETB. Training centres in Baldoyle, Tallaght and Loughlinstown, will move to Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB. One training centre each will move to Cork (Bishopstown) and Kerry (Tralee) ETBs. A further 12 training centres will transfer from SOLAS to other ETBs in the coming months.
Announcing the move, Minister Quinn said, “This marks an important further step in the development of an integrated high-quality further education and training sector, following the establishment of SOLAS last October. The training centres will offer a range of modules which will meet the needs of learners together with the needs of society and of the economy.”
“This latest development is in line with our Troika commitments and represents further evidence of this government’s commitment to transforming the Education and Training landscape in Ireland. ”
“Given the strong focus on matching employers’ needs with training for adults in these training centres, this will assist in getting more of our people into the workforce and to meeting our goal of returning Ireland to full employment by 2020,” said Minister Quinn.
The seven training centres transferring on 1st January provide a huge variety of day, evening and online courses to some 7,000 trainees. Courses are available in areas as diverse as Java Programming, Sustainable Waste Management, App Development, Life Science Manufacturing Operations and Motor Parts Servicing.
In accordance with the Further Education and Training Act 2013, SOLAS is responsible for funding, planning and co-ordinating training and further education programmes. ETBs will be responsible for the delivery of further education and training and will be empowered to partner with, or provide support services to, other providers of education and training.
ENDS
For further information please contact Deirdre Grant at 086 0484279
Note for Editors:
A five year national strategy for further education and training will be developed by SOLAS following a consultation process with key stakeholders. The strategy will be submitted to the Minister for Education and Skills in the first quarter of 2014.
A review on the Apprentice Programme is due to be published early in 2014.
The Department is funding innovative programmes like Momentum which will assist long term unemployed jobseekers to gain in-demand skills and to access work in sectors of the economy where there are job opportunities. Momentum will include on-the job training in the form of work experience modules as well as the development of the workplace skills required to obtain and retain employment.
SOLAS will have a close relationship and consult with the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Jobs Enterprise and Innovation on the types of further education and training courses to be provided for jobseekers.