Education and Training Boards
Seanad Éireann — 2026-03-05
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Charlie McConalogue (FF), Donegal

I again thank the Senator for raising the matter and providing the opportunity for me, on behalf of the Minister for further education, to outline the situation and background. I assure the Senator that proactive steps are being taken by officials to maximise the impact of ESOL provision within available resources. Since February 2022, demand for ESOL programmes provided by ETBs has risen very sharply. That ESOL provision was critical in supporting migrants in the development of English language skills, while also strengthening communities and supporting access to the labour market.
While the end to temporary funding will have impacts in many local areas, the Department, through all the 16 ETBs, continues to support the provision of ESOL courses. The development and learning achieved by ETBs in ESOL provision over the past four years places the system in a stronger overall position than it had previously. With this in mind, the Department will continue to work closely with SOLAS, ETBI and the ETBs to maximise ESOL provision. The Department will also engage with colleagues across government to co-ordinate wider ESOL provision and ensure that impact is maximised for learners and their communities.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2026-03-05/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:44+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-03-05