SOLAS – Further Education and Training Authority

SOLAS (An tSeirbhis Oideachais Leanunach agus Scileanna – Further Education and Skills Service) is the statutory state agency established in 2013 under the Further Education and Training Act to lead, fund, and coordinate Ireland’s Further Education and Training (FET) sector. Headquartered in Dublin’s Castleforbes Road, SOLAS works closely with Ireland’s 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), regional skills forums, and industry partners to plan and deliver FET programmes that directly respond to labour market needs and individual learner goals. SOLAS manages a diverse portfolio of programmes including national apprenticeships in over 70 trades and professional occupations, traineeships, Skills to Advance (workplace upskilling for employees), eCollege (online learning), and the European Globalisation Fund support for workers affected by company restructuring. The agency also oversees the Safe Pass health and safety awareness programme and Construction Skills Certification Scheme (CSCS), mandatory training pathways for the construction industry. SOLAS maintains the National Skills Database and provides research and analysis for the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, ensuring Ireland’s vocational training system aligns with technological, economic, and social transitions. Course listings and applications for SOLAS-funded programmes are available via fetchcourses.ie.