A €39 million capital funding package has been unveiled for Ireland’s 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). This significant investment is designed to enhance further education and training infrastructure nationwide.
The allocation includes a substantial increase in the core Devolved Capital Grant, which rises to €12 million for 2026, up from €8 million in 2025. This flexible funding empowers ETBs to address essential small-scale works, including:
Preventative maintenance and health & safety improvements.
Refurbishment and accessibility upgrades.
Infrastructure enhancements and equipment modernisation, including ICT.
This boosted core grant will help ETBs manage budgets and project timelines effectively amid ongoing construction inflation, rising material costs, and supply chain pressures.
A further €7 million is earmarked for specific strategic projects. This funding will:
Support the national expansion of Skills to Advance Micro Qualifications for industry.
Upgrade high-tech equipment for upskilling in the biopharmaceutical and MedTech sectors.
Procure specialist equipment for training in construction, green skills, and other key sectors.
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless TD:
“I am very pleased to announce the expansion of these funding streams to the ETBs to support continued energy efficiency measures, ongoing capital investment in the FET estate and the provision of specialist equipment to support the upskilling of the construction, MedTech and other sectors nationally.
“My Department continues to provide significant resources to support our Further Education and Training Sector in offering the best facilities and equipment to its students and staff.
"These Devolved Capital Grants demonstrates my Department’s confidence in the ETBs to effectively manage their devolved funding and respond to their most pressing capital needs within their respective regions. This expanded funding will allow ETBs to prioritise maintenance and upgrade works across their existing FET estate ensuring service provision and value for money while enhancing the overall FET learning environment”.
In addition to the standard Devolved Capital Grant, today’s announcement provides an additional €8 million for the Green Devolved Capital Grant for 2025 and an increased allocation of €12 million for 2026 to support the ETBs in the delivery of energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets for Further Education and Training buildings.
The additional 2025 allocation is in addition to €8 million announced in early 2025. The increased Green Devolved Capital Gant allocation will support ETBs in achieving their 2030 energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets as set out in the Public Sector Climate Action Mandate.
Minister of State for Further Education, Apprenticeship, Construction and Climate Skills, Marian Harkin TD said:
“I am happy to announce the allocation of just over €20m from the Green Devolved Capital Grant to the Further Education and Training sector, this funding will support ETBs in achieving the required reduction in energy related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 51% and improving energy efficiency by 50% by 2030.
“The funding will support for example the implementation of a strategic metering programme to install advanced electricity, gas, and water metering systems across the 568 FET buildings occupied by the ETBs. These meters will establish a baseline data for FET buildings and monitor 'out of hours' usage. This initiative is a foundational step in the broader decarbonisation strategy for the FET estate.”
Funding is provided under Project Ireland 2040 and forms part of the ongoing investment in the further education and training (FET) sector.
The funding will be distributed to the ETBs through SOLAS (tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna)
Avril Behan, Director of FET College of the Future in SOLAS, said:
"SOLAS welcomes the increased Devolved Capital Grant allocation for 2026. This grant will support ETBs towards further implementation of Universal Design to advance inclusion and pathways for all learners. The grant will also support the ongoing maintenance and improvement of safe, quality FET facilities which will benefit learners, staff, and community users."
"SOLAS also welcomes the significant investment by DFHERIS in Green Devolved Capital Grants between 2024 and 2026. This investment is enabling ETBs to implement systematic, Estates-wide sustainability initiatives, supported by SOLAS, to substantially address their Public Sector Climate Action Mandate requirement, in alignment with the tertiary sector’s roadmap, towards achieving energy efficiency and decarbonisation targets for their properties by 2030 and towards 2050. SOLAS is delighted to be able to support ETBs in demonstrating regional and local leadership in respect of Climate Action."
