A study examined European Social Fund (ESF)-funded middle-level technician (MLT) and higher technical and business skills (HTBS) courses at Irish technical colleges. Data were obtained from the following: review of relevant literature; review of all program-monitoring documents submitted by Ireland's Department of Education since 1990; interviews with representatives of selected state agencies and technical colleges; and survey of employers of MLT/HTBS course graduates. MLT and HTBS courses were found to be successful programs having tremendous impacts on technical/vocational training and giving participants the technical skills required to meet changing employer needs. Among the 21 actions recommended to improve MLT/HTBS programs were the following: introduce comprehensive procedures to monitor MLT/HTBS courses and graduates; consider funding part-time students in regional technical colleges (RTCs); continue to make development of the RTC sector's infrastructure a priority; increase the number of academic staff in RTCs; develop new policies regarding training trainers in RTCs, standardize colleges' approach to developing links with industry; expand work placement schemes; prevent the streaming of female students into nontechnical areas, and categorize MLT and HTBS as initial training. (Contains 18 tables. Appended are tables detailing colleges operating ESF programs, program enrollments, and MLT/HTBS courses approved for ESF aid.) (MN)