What is an ETB?

An ETB (Education and Training Board) is an education authority responsible for education and training, youth work and a range of other issues related to creating a suitably skilled workforce. ETBs manage and operate second-level schools, further education colleges, multi-faith community national schools and a range of adult and further education centres which deliver education and training programmes.

Functions of an Education and Training Board (as stated under the Education and Training Boards Act 2013):

- Establish and maintain recognised schools, centres for education and education or training facilities in its functional area,
- When directed to do so by the Minister:
  1. establish and maintain recognised schools in its functional area
  2. establish and maintain centres for education in its functional area
  3. Maintain centres for education or recognised schools in its functional area, and
  4. Establish, maintain or resource education or training facilities in its functional area
- Plan, provide, coordinate and review the provision of education and training, including education and training for the purpose of employment, and services ancillary thereto in its functional area in:
  1. Recognised schools or centres for education maintained by it
  2. Recognised schools or centres for education maintained by it
  3. Education or training facilities maintained or resourced by it
  4. Children detention schools
  5. Prisons
  6. Facilities maintained by other public service bodies,
- Enter into arrangements with, and provide support services to, education or training providers
- Establish scholarships
- Adopt a strategy statement
- Adopt an annual service plan
- Co-operate with anybody nominated to carry out internal audit functions
- Provide education and training at the request of, and on behalf of, anybody which funds training out of money provided to that body by the Oireachtas
- Support the provision, coordination, administration and assessment of youth work services in its functional area and provide such information as may be requested by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs in relation to such support
- Assess whether the manner in which it performs its functions is economical, efficient and effective.

ETBs are active in local communities through the direct provision of training and education programmes delivered in training centres, colleges and other training and educational settings.

The sixteen ETBs are: