As Ireland navigates the twin transitions of digitalisation and decarbonisation, while also responding to demographic shifts, the demands on our workforce are rapidly evolving. In this changing landscape, skills, training, and lifelong learning have become essential to sustaining business competitiveness and national resilience.

The National Training Fund (NTF) represents a powerful yet underutilised resource for unlocking Ireland’s skills potential. If leveraged properly, the NTF could play a critical role in embedding a culture of lifelong learning and preparing the workforce for the future. To achieve this, however, Government must commit to permanently unlocking the NTF surplus and channel increased investment into both Further and Higher Education and future-focused areas.

To explore this issue further, Dublin Chamber would like to invite you to an online roundtable discussion at 12pm on Friday, 20th June. The session will last approximately 60 minutes, and the discussion will be based on your individual input and broadly framed by the following questions:

1. What skills gaps are currently limiting your business’s ability to grow, innovate, or stay competitive?
2. Is the National Training Fund currently being managed effectively in your view? If not, what changes would make it more responsive to business needs?

3. With the government committing to unlock part of the NTF surplus over its lifetime, what specific investments would you like to see included in future drawdowns to better meet your business needs?