David Cullinane (Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the witnesses. I am very supportive of the work that is being done in this area. It is very important, given our current situation. There is a role for a former agency that deals with developing skills in the employers group and the businesses themselves. That is very important. What is missing in Ireland, although some European countries are excellent at it, is fostering the culture of learning and upskilling within companies. Companies can encourage their employees to upskill and avail of training opportunities within existing companies. If that was happening on a more sustained basis it would negate the need to troubleshoot. When a company is in crisis and goes bust, we see the need for upskilling and retraining workers. We are not very good at looking at where problems might arise and looking at the generic skills that workers need to have to transfer to other employment. The situation that arose in TalkTalk is a good example. Training was provided and there was a high level of skill in the area. When H-Tec was formed, it was on the basis that people in the area had the core skills as well as management and business skills and had the support of Skillnets and Enterprise Ireland. They were able to give that support because the staff had the skills base.

I would like to see training and upskilling embedded in enterprise. That is crucial for the country. What more can Skillnets do?

Mr. Nuzum mentioned six key growth areas. This will differ from region to region. I come from the south east and I know this region majors in life sciences, pharma, medical devices, engineering, food and tourism. There is a need for upskilling in the tourism sector. The counties of Wexford, Waterford and Kilkenny are now being called a tourism triangle. One of the things that has come up in meetings I have attended is the need for bespoke training courses in customer service and many other areas in regard to tourism and the food sector. In relation to the regional element, how does Skillnets tailor what it does to meet the strengths and needs of regions? Skillnets networks has identified growth areas, but obviously this may differ within regions, and other sectors in a region may need to be considered. Is additional funding being made available for regions that are losing out disproportionately or underperforming? This is happening in the Border counties. However, the rate of unemployment in the south east is 25% above the national average. Skillnets needs to focus more on areas in which they are high levels of unemployment.

It is always important to measure success. How is it measured? Has Mr Nuzum any information on additional posts that might have been created in companies to which Skillnets has provided training and supports both for the employees and the employers? Has he figures on the cost of such services? It would be important to measure the success of what has been done and the costs involved.

I thank Mr. Nuzum for his very insightful presentation.