Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I thank the Minister and advise him to stick to the ambitious target. When targets are missed they will continue to be missed and the people who will suffer will be the potential customer or client of FÁS who needs that particular support. There is a need for root and branch review of courses that have been provided and we cannot wait for months for that to happen. I do not know if FÁS is doing that necessary review at present. There are skills shortages in this country and there are so many highly qualified and talented people who have to leave our island to seek work elsewhere. There must be a marrying of the needs of the labour market and the talent and ability of our own people to ensure they are reskilled or upskilled to avail of those potential job opportunities.

It is grand for the public service, in general. This is not a criticism of any Department but of the public service, no matter who is in power, which does not react rapidly enough. The people who will be suffering will be those who need the courses. I wonder if the new Solas body is to be similar to the HEA; we discussed one issue previously in this regard. There is unnecessary duplication of courses in our higher education sector and I hope that can be eliminated in future. Solas will need to ensure there is no such unnecessary duplication throughout our new education and training bodies throughout the country and that the needs of the customers and our people are met.

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