John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I will start with questions to the witnesses from the institutes of technology, who can respond if they have the figures. Do they have any figures on the employment rate of graduates from the institutes? How do they compare to other institutes around the country? Do they have any figures on employability from the courses they run?

Mr. Declan Doyle mentioned the need to match education provision with industry needs. I am a little shocked that that is what he is presenting in 2013 given that the issues we are talking about date back at least to 2008, if not before. DCU, a university of good practice, has a programme called Generation 21. It has revamped all of the modules in all of its courses and has introduced a set of soft skills that companies are seeking. I am a little concerned that has not been done in the institutes and that they are only talking about doing it now.

Mr. Shane Rooney is someone who is quite involved in labour activation measures but from listening to his presentation, it sounds to me that labour activation measures and the Pathways to Work strategy have not hit the south east yet. Perhaps he would be able to give me some figures. I know it is not directly his responsibility, but how far has the Intreo model been rolled out in the south east? How many places on the Momentum initiative, which is for the long-term unemployed, have been given to the south east? How many of them have been taken up? Are there any vacancies?

In regard to those responsible for career guidance, I assume that in many cases the local employment service takes on the job of offering career guidance, jobs skills and jobs clubs to the unemployed where there is not a local employment office or an Intreo office. These are things that people should be doing. Jobs clubs are responsible for supporting people in getting jobs while jobs centres are responsible for helping people to develop a career path. That has been formalised much more in the Pathways to Work strategy. I was a bit taken aback because it sounded as though none of this was happening in the south east. I imagine more needs to happen. I would like a response on some of those issues.

It was mentioned that there was no link between employers and education providers or labour activation providers. Whose responsibility is this? Is it not everybody's responsibility? For too long there has not been that connection with providers, whether from the education side or from the Department or those contracted on behalf of the Department - often community and voluntary agencies that do a really good job in many respects in some cities and counties. Whose responsibility is it to create that link? I assumed it was everybody's responsibility to create that link between the jobs available and the local employment service or the local Intreo office. I know I sound a little critical but I am very surprised by this. People who know me know I do not mince my words on these issues.

I would appreciate whatever information the witnesses can give me. I know none of the witnesses is responsible for the Intreo model, so I do not expect facts and figures to be completely accurate, but given that Mr. Rooney had many facts and figures, he might be able to shed some light on some of those issues. I have asked a number of questions to which the witnesses can do their best to respond. There is no need for witnesses to repeat answers. I suggest the appropriate witness answer each question.