Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This week's PwC report also pointed out that out of 34 countries surveyed in Europe, Ireland is ranked at No. 29. The league scores individual countries on their youth unemployment rates and their performance, for instance, in the vocational training to which the Minister referred. It is an indictment of our system that we are not catching up with the rest of the developed countries in Europe in tackling those issues.

We must acknowledge also that every effort should be made to facilitate youth, our greatest resource, and to channel young people into the proper training courses to meet the needs of industry. We must meet the needs of local SMEs and the needs of foreign direct investment companies, FDI, who are coming into this country and respond to the needs of the economy in general. We must also provide incentives and encouragement for the many emigrants whom we are striving to attract back to this country. The experience they have gained will be invaluable for the future of our economy. We must accelerate the programme to develop the skill sets and training, in particular vocational training to which the Minister referred. The industrialists who want to come into this country have pointed out the lack of the skill sets that are required for their specific enterprises.

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