Cork TD concerned at lack of clarity on Solas finances

A Cork TD has expressed concern over the lack of clarity and transparency regarding Solas budgeting and reallocation of funds.

Cork South Central Sinn Féin TD Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire said that local training initiatives are being left in limbo as a result and called on the government to provide clarity.

Solas was established in 2013 under the Further Education and Training Act as an agency of the Department of Further and Higher Education, and its work is guided by the Further Education and Training (FET) Strategy 2020-2024 and the Solas Corporate Plan.

Mr Ó Laoghaire said: “I welcome that Solas announced the funding issue impacting the 2025 apprenticeship budget has been resolved and that the scheduling and delivery planning for all craft apprenticeship phases for the remainder of the year has been completed.

“Where has this Solas funding been allocated from?

“Sinn Féin will be further questioning the minister on this as soon as the Dáil returns after the summer recess.”

Mr Ó Laoghaire added: “There are also huge issues around the fair and equal pay for ETB teachers who are only being paid for nine to 10 months of the year, instead of the promised 12 months forced to claim social welfare during the months they don’t teach.

“ETBs are hiring new part-time teachers instead of giving current teachers full-time jobs. There is a downgrading of teachers in ETBs to adult educators.

“Though many work in primary schools, the promised pay scales have been manipulated to the lowest possible legal limit allowed.”

Mr Ó Laoghaire continued: “Are we now in a situation where Solas funding has been found to address the shortfall for the apprentice budget to the detriment of young learners who want to better themselves by completing their education at level 5? Or that adult educators are forced to sign on to social welfare rather than getting paid the wages they are entitled to?”

Meanwhile, Solas recently launched The Future Skills Ireland podcast, which aims to share real life stories and conversations about careers and essential skills, alongside discussions on Ireland’s future skills needs and national research. The aim of the podcast is to create a national conversation on the importance of skills.

Speaking about the podcast Shauna Dunlop of Solas said it features real life stories and careers from a range of guests highlighting the importance of skills throughout their journeys.