Education and Training Board

An Education and Training Board (ETB) (Irish: Bord Oideachais agus Oiliúna) is a statutory regional education and training authority in the Republic of Ireland that operates and administers a large proportion of secondary education, most further and adult education and a growing number of primary education schools in the state.

ETBs came into existence on 1 July 2013 through the enactment of the Education and Training Boards Act 2013, when they replaced the existing system of Vocational Education Committees (VECs) that had been in place since 1930. In addition to taking over the responsibilities of VECs, ETBs took on the training functions of Foras Áiseanna Saothair (FÁS), the national training and employment authority, when it was dissolved in 2013 (Further Education and Training Act 2013). This Act also created SOLAS (Official Website), the statutory organisation responsible for funding, planning and coordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland, and tasked with building the identity and values of a world-class, integrated FET sector that is responsive to the needs of learners and the requirements of a changed and changing economy.

Following the commencement of the ETB Act 2013 and the transfer of the former FÁS training centres to ETBs, they became statutorily responsible for the provision of state-funded Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. They deliver a range of programmes and courses at levels 1 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), as well as traineeships and apprenticeships. In addition to FET provision, ETBs deliver a wide range of services across many educational levels throughout Ireland. They operate over 270 second-level schools, Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) colleges, vocational training centres, and over 500 education centres. ETBs are trustees of 92 Community Colleges. They also manage a growing number of multi-faith primary-level Community National Schools. ETBs are involved in prison education, Youthreach programmes, Youth Work, Back to Education Initiatives (BTEI), Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), workplace learning programmes, outdoor education and training, adult and community education, and other educational programmes. There are ETB-run centres, schools or colleges in every corner of Ireland.