Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 23 November 2023

Public Accounts Committee

Appropriation Accounts 2022
Vote 45 - Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Financial Statements 2022: National Training Fund
Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2022
Chapter 19: National Training Fund

9:30 am

Dr. Colm O'Reardon:

There is a quite a bit in that so let me pick off a few pieces.

On the research side we did some work we call the McGrath report last year, in which we carried out a fairly detailed analysis of what skills are needed in the construction sector in particular. It is designed to try to identify the skills we need to meet the national targets for housing and for retrofitting. They are big numbers. Approximately 50,000 people are needed up to 2030 to replace people who are retiring from the construction sector and to meet the additional targets for housing. We are refreshing the analysis and will update the McGrath report, but nonetheless there is a demand.