Employers are to be given a greater say in the use of the National Training Fund (NTF) which the Government wants them to contribute more to, Education Minister Richard Bruton will announce today.

Employers and unions agree that ringfencing a portion of corporate tax or business profits could be a better way to bolster higher education funding than a government proposal to increase employers’ PRSI.

A decision on which funding model to recommend for third-level education is unlikely to issue, from an all-party committee of TDs and senators, until late summer at the earliest.

The money that could be raised for further and higher education from a proposed hike in employers’ contributions is €30m less than what two Government ministers have suggested.

Employers could see the amount they contribute to a national training fund almost double by 2020 in a Government plan to raise an extra €200m a year for third-level education.

The cost of student grants has run €13.5m over-budget due to more people qualifying — but also because of quicker-than-expected processing of applications.

A ringing endorsement of the State-funded training body Skillnets has been made by companies using the service, with 97% saying it has helped fill skill gaps and 87% acknowledging its contribution to a rise in productivity.

A CALL has been made for a Government-led initiative to improve the standard of business management in Ireland, backed by the claim that such a move could provide a €2 billion boost to the economy.

The existing €1,500 student services charge for third-level pupils will be replaced with a flat-rate student contribution of €2,000 under the provisions of the four-year National Recovery Plan, Education Minister Mary Coughlan's department has confirmed.

SERIOUS questions have been raised over the delivery of the state’s Skillnets programme after the C&AG report uncovered issues over the non-delivery of courses that were already paid for, financial irregularities and missing documentation linked to tenders.

The International Trade Skillnet today said that export-led growth is the only sustainable route to secure long-term prosperity for Ireland’s economy.

Chambers Ireland today called for the National Training Fund to continue its focus on those in employment, against a backdrop of rising unemployment figures and calls for drastic measures to shorten dole queues.

TRAINING in the sport horse sector is to be boosted by an injection of €500,000.

A TRAINING initiative worth €300,000 has been launched for 273 farm relief services employees.

THE Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment’s spending potential was increased by just under 3% to €1.427 billion in the pre-budget estimates for 2008.

FINE Gael and Labour have promised to pay for the retraining of 100,000 low-skilled workers if returned to power.

MINISTER for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Micheál Martin yesterday announced an additional €16 million is to be made available through the National Training Fund and the European Social to promote in-company training.

The Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Micheál Martin, will have 7% in increased funding for his Department in 2005, after the Estimates were announced tonight.

Esat BT has become the first Irish telecommunications firm to receive an award from the Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI).