Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The strategy has identified five high-level goals. Goal number two is to support the active inclusion of those of all abilities in society with special reference to literacy and numeracy. I suppose the best analogy I can draw in terms of what the strategy is setting to achieve is that on the national framework for qualifications, NFQ, there are ten levels or, if you like, ten different floors, and the lift needs to go to every floor. Every person who is on whatever level, from level one to level six, seven or eight, needs to be able to press the button and be assured that the lift arrives at his or her floor and allows him or her to access that NFQ at whatever point is appropriate for him or her.

I was fortunate to be able to engage with a significant number of learners in the run-up to the development of SOLAS and the strategy, and one of the overriding concerns of learners was that they needed to be able to access high quality educational opportunities in their community, home town or village. That is still very much at the heart of the strategy. That first engagement, that first support which people can find so difficult, will be supported and nurtured by SOLAS and the ETBs in future.

In terms of engagement with employers, it is exceptionally important that such engagement occurs so we can ensure the learning and training opportunities we are providing for people are up to date and respond directly to the needs of the employment market, right at this point in time and as it evolves over time as it is doing on a rapid basis.

As Deputy O'Brien will be aware, there are industry representatives on the board of SOLAS, but also there is provision in the legislation for similar representatives on the boards of the ETBs. Each education and training board, ETB, is currently determining how exactly it can provide for that engagement, but Deputy O'Brien's suggestion of a forum is worthwhile. In meeting some significant employers, I have already spoken to some CEOs who are going down that route. For example, in Galway city there are 8,000 employed in medical devices manufacturing who hold a significant key to the future success of that city and region and it would be reasonable to expect that they would have a role to play in determining the kinds of learning and training opportunities provided in that region. It will be done on a regional basis reflecting the needs of each individual region for which the ETB has responsibility.

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