An tSeirbhís Oideachais Leanúnaigh agus Scileanna (SOLAS), the Further Education and Training Authority, was established in October 2013 under the Further Education and Training Act, 2013. Under the aegis of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, SOLAS is responsible for the strategic co-ordination and funding of the Further Education and Training (FET) Sector.Role of the BoardThe legislation sets out the overall structure of SOLAS and provides for its functions in the areas of: • the development and implementation of a national strategy for the delivery of further education and training; • consultation with key stakeholders in relation to the provision of further education and training; • coordination with the National Public Employment Service, Intreo, in the delivery of further education and training programmes to those seeking employment;• advancing monies to the Education and Training Boards and other training bodies; • assessing whether bodies engaged in the provision of further education and training programmes perform their functions in an economic, efficient, and effective manner; and • developing and facilitating the development of new and existing further education and training programmes; conducting research relating to the functions of SOLAS.

I am a current Board member of Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Company. Mayo North East (MNELP) is an integrated LEADER Partnership company established in 2008 to promote rural development and tackle social exclusion. The company which is community-owned and volunteer-led has been a cornerstone of the local, rural, community development and social inclusion sectors in the region for over three decades. It manages a number of programmes on behalf of various Government Departments and the EU for the collective benefit of the people and communities of North and East Mayo. The Company does this by securing, managing and administering the multiple Development Programmes.

Mayo College of Further Education & Training operates 3 campus locations in Ballina, Castlebar and Westport, offering nearly 60 Level 5 and Level 6 QQI courses. We also operate 6 VTOS hubs in Ballina, Castlebar, Ballinrobe, Belmullet, Achill and Swinford offering a range of courses at Level 4, 5 and 6.