Joe McHugh (Donegal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Go raibh maith agat, a Chathaoirligh. Táim an-sásta a bheith anseo os comhair an choiste chun labhairt faoi ráiteas straitéise úr mo Roinne. Táim an-bhuíoch don Aire Stáit ar a bhfuil freagracht as an ard-oideachas, Teachta Mitchell O'Connor, as a bheith i mo theannta inniu. Mar is eol do bhaill an choiste, bhí dualgas orm agus ar mo Roinn ráiteas straitéise úr a fhorbairt taobh istigh de sé mhí ón dáta a ceapadh mé mar Aire sa Roinn. Nuair a bhí mé os comhair an choiste cheana féin, gheall mé dó go dtiocfainn ar ais chun labhairt leis faoin ráiteas straitéise úr agus chun deis a thabhairt do na baill a dtuairimí agus a moltaí a chur chun cinn. Ní féidir liom a rá go mbeidh mé in ann iad go léir a chur isteach sa ráiteas ach tá sé tábhachtach dom éisteacht.

I am here with my colleague, Deputy Mitchell O'Connor, and my officials as part of this consultation process. My Department has already made a call for written submissions from the general public and stakeholders on what should be in the next strategy statement. This led to our receiving almost 400 submissions. In addition, I have been meeting various stakeholders as part of my introduction to my new portfolio. This has given me the opportunity to discuss with various education partners the issues they consider to be of importance in the coming years. Additionally, last Thursday I had a very successful meeting in Letterkenny with regional representatives of many of the key actors in the education and training sector. This was a very fruitful event and there were a range of suggestions made and ideas put forward which I have noted and will consider. I have also been immersing myself in the job, back in the classroom, meeting stakeholders, students, teachers and representatives of the board of management, whether in Cork, Kilkenny, Dublin or other parts of the country. I intend to continue with this because I am hearing many issues being raised, and at the coalface is where one will find out what is needed and where the weaknesses and strengths are.

I am here to meet and consult this committee and hear its views as to what should be in the statement of strategy for my Department. I am aware that under the terms of the Public Service Management Act, the statement will be submitted to the Oireachtas once it has been finalised. However, I requested this opportunity to add an additional consultative step rather than presenting the committee with a finished article before it had the opportunity to contribute its views. I am here in listening mode and I look forward to hearing the contributions from members on what they consider to be the key priority strategic actions for my Department in the next few years. I emphasise that my focus today is on the strategic level.

The strategy statement is an important document for any organisation. It is a key opportunity for a Department to define the direction to be taken in a policy context. My Department's strategy statement is an overview and a statement of direction for the education and training sector over the next three years. It introduces accountability at a Civil Service level but also allows the Minister of the day discretion in the work he or she wishes to carry out. For this reason, I ask the committee to set out today what strategic direction it wants the education and training sector to travel over the next three years.

Obviously, we are all very aware of the various constraints that operate from the point of view of finite resources and the like, but I want to focus today on what can be achieved and on setting out a level of ambition for the sector into the future. For my part, I am very keen to continue the work towards an education and training system that empowers learners and gives them the resilience, skills and training they need to prepare for living successfully in a complex and changing world. I want to release the potential of learners, enabling them to achieve their personal goals and supporting them to make the best of their opportunities as they move forward in their lives. I want a system that can respond to the changing needs of learners, one that is adaptable, accessible and challenging and remains consistently relevant.

The education and training system needs to equip the 21st century learner with core competencies such as critical thinking skills, language skills, ability to use technology and written communication skills. These core competencies will enable learners to adapt, work with others, think critically and be creative not just when they leave school or college, but throughout their lives and careers.

The committee is aware that the Department has engaged in a significant reform agenda in the past few years and there is no doubt that much has been achieved. I pay tribute to my predecessors for their work in that regard. I want to continue to make progress to embed initiatives and strategies that are under way and reform at a pace at which the system can deliver. I am also conscious that the education and training system works as a partnership between the various players involved, including providers, learners, parents, patrons, management bodies, teachers, lecturers, administrators, the ETBs and the State. It is important that this be explicitly recognised and the spirit of partnership evident in the sector be nurtured and built on.

To clarify for the committee, as well as the strategy statement which will set high level priority actions for the next three years, the Department will be developing annual action plans over the lifetime of the strategy. The committee will be familiar with the model of my predecessor as Minister, Deputy Bruton, who had annual action plans. My intention is to have the strategy statement which will identify the strategic direction to be taken and then annual action plans which will set out the more immediate actions to be implemented in order to make progress towards achieving the longer term strategic goals. I intend to publish a 2019 action plan shortly. However, it will be defined by the objectives set in the strategy statement. That is why it is important for me to have this session to hear the views of the committee on the content of the strategy statement and have the opportunity to take them into account in developing and working up a new strategy statement.

As I am conscious of the time constraints, I will not keep the committee much longer. I look forward to hearing the contributions of committee members.