Skillnets

Name of the instrument - Local language: Skillnets
Name of the instrument - English translation: Skillnets
Scheme ID: 110
Country: Ireland
Reporting year: 2020
Type of instrument: Grant for companies
Sub-type of instrument: Support for direct costs
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: Companies that are in one of the Skillnet Business Networks, providing subisdised training are eligible for this grant. Skillnets training networks programme (TNP) is funded from the National Training Fund. Eligible training covers a wide range of industry sectors and geographical regions, financial services training and management development. Up to 50% of all eligible costs can be subsidised. There is no limitation for re-use. No preferential treatment established.
Short description of the related instruments: Not applicable

Level of operation

Regional

Sectoral

Name of a part of the country

Not applicable

Relevance

Key instrument

Legal basis

Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997(NB: Finance Act of 1995 provided for tax relief for tuition fees. All legislation relating to tuition fees that had been passed prior to 1997 was incorporated in the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. Also, changes made to tuition tax relief after 1997 were retrospectively incorporated into the Act)

Objective(s) and target(s)

To increase participation in company training; to improve competitiveness and provide improved access for workers to industry-specific/transferable skills development.

Year of implementation

1999

Year of latest amendment

2018

Operation/management

Skillnets Ltd is governed by a board containing representatives of employer associations and trade unions as well as ministerial appointees. A budget is allocated from the National Training Fund.

Eligible group(s)

Industry-led networks, their members - private companies and their employees; unemployed people.

Group(s) with preferential treatment

No preferential treatment

Education and training eligible

Training across a wide range of industry sectors and geographical regions, financial services training and management development.

Source of financing and collection mechanism

Skillnets training networks programme (TNP) is funded from the National Training Fund.

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

Under the current training networks programme (TNP) up to 50% of the cost of all eligible network activities is provided. Allocation: Companies meeting predefined criteria best are funded. For training programmes, the networks organise the costs, with some training programmes being provided to skillnet members free of cost and others at subsidised rates dependant on the allocation of the network.

Eligible costs

Fees and other costs related to education and training

Volumes of funding

Programme costs:2019: EUR 27 159 973 2018: EUR 19 455 9642017: EUR 16 194 373

Beneficiaries/take up

Beneficiaries (people trained): 2019: 70 270 2018: 56 182 2017: 49 194

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Skillnets

Monitoring/evaluation reports available

Evaluation of Skillnet Ireland in 2018 https://www.skillnetireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Indecon-Evalu…

Most relevant webpage - in English

http://www.skillnets.ie/

Most relevant webpage - local language

http://www.skillnets.ie/

Recent changes

In 2018, Skillnet Ireland repositioned, becoming a rebranded agency (Skillnet Ireland), in order to provide greater clarity to businesses and greater focus to the areas of upskilling and lifelong learning.

Recent changes in response to COVID-19

No changes

Sources