Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)

The Deputy has raised an issue that pertains to other countries as well as Ireland. There is a shortage of skills in many countries. With things moving so rapidly in the area of the Internet, robotics, nanotechnology, genetics and so on, the next decade will require a new range of skills sets and training for young people.

I met Mr. Schmidt of Google last week when he was here. He pointed out that the company is exceptionally happy with the facilities made available to it, and the opportunity that Ireland has presented for the company to do business. He pointed out the shortage of particular skills. The Minister for Education and Skills was with me when we met Mr. Schmidt. This requires an adjustment in the curriculum dealing with mathematics, engineering, physics and so on.

That is not something which can happen overnight but it is something of which the Minister is fully cognisant.

The question of FÁS will be decided on by Government, if not next week, then the week after. It is being reformed. I take Deputy Ross's point about the opportunity for the chief executive and chief personnel to be called in and I expect they will appear before the appropriate Oireachtas committee, whether education and skills or social protection. Deputies, like Deputy Ross, will have the opportunity to have face-to-face discussions on the projections and proposals on the revamped and reformed structure which was FÁS and on which the Deputy had a particular and direct hit some years ago. Deputy Ross's point is perfectly valid.

From speaking to chief executives and senior officers in companies like Hewlett Packard, Intel, Dell and so on, I know they recognise the scale of evolution and change required in all these sectors. Flexibility in our education system is required to deal with that. The Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, is very conscious of that. I hope that as a small country we can meet that flexibility and demand.

Looking at what has happened with mathematics over the years, it appears some companies look for some elements from the mathematics curriculum when looking for young people here while others with a different skills set are very happy with what they have got. However, it is an issue which needs to be addressed. I hope that when the new entity is formed, Deputy Ross will have the opportunity to speak directly to the chief executive at the Oireachtas committees.

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