Committee of Public Accounts to examine 2022 Appropriation Accounts and National Training Fund with Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

The meeting at 9.30am in Committee Room 3 of Leinster House will be joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, and officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, and officials from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform.

The Committee will also examine the Report on the Account of the Public Services 2022: Chapter 19 - National Training Fund and the 2022 Financial Statements of the National Training Fund.

During the afternoon session, beginning at 1.30pm, the Committee will consider correspondence and other business of the Committee.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Brian Stanley said: “The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science creates policy for the higher and further education and research sectors. In 2022, total gross expenditure in this Vote was €3.3 billion, an increase of €300 million on 2021. The expenditure was split between three main programmes: Skills Development (€695 million), Higher Education (€2.3 billion) and Research, Innovation and Science (€255 million).

Key issue for examination by the Committee include whether funding for higher education institutions (HEIs) is sufficient; governance and oversight of HEIs, including performance agreements; procurement compliance; delivery of capital projects; matching training to social and economic sector needs such as the requirement for more teachers and medical personnel; and development and delivery of apprenticeship training.

“The Department also oversees the National Training Fund, which supports the training of those seeking to take up employment and those in employment seeking to upskill, and seeks to facilitate lifelong learning. Significant funds are paid from the NTF to the Higher Education Authority to fund universities, institutes of technology and teacher training; to Solas to fund Education and Training Boards; and to Science Foundation Ireland.

“The income of the NTF in 2022 was €951million, and there was a surplus for the year of €269 million. By the end of 2022, the fund had an accumulated surplus of €1.372 billion. The National Training Fund Act 2000 requires that any surplus funding remains in the NTF account to provide for reinvestment into eligible training activities. The C&AG’s Chapter 19 report examines the factors giving rise to the accumulated NTF surplus, and the progress made in the implementation of recommendations to reform the NTF which have taken longer to implement than the originally intended 2020 target date.

“The Committee looks forward to examining these and related matters with the Department’s Secretary-General and Accounting Officer, Mr Colm O’Reardon, who is the accountable person to PAC, and his colleagues.”

The meeting in Committee Room 3 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

PAC is a standing committee of Dáil Éireann which focuses on ensuring public services are run efficiently and achieve value for money. Further information on the role and remit of the Committee can be found here.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.