John Halligan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Durkan for this very important question.

The National Skills Council, which was established in April and had its first meeting on 15 May, will oversee research and provide advice on the prioritisation and delivery of identified skills needs. As part of the Action Plan for Education, €36.5 million has been committed to the expansion of higher education in 2017 and there is a commitment to grow further in the years ahead. The Department is also consulting on an employer-Exchequer mechanism to support the effort to meet skills gaps. To promote lifelong learning in the workplace and provide for employee development, the further education and training authority, SOLAS, is preparing an employee development policy framework due to be published in 2017.

The recently-published Action Plan to Expand Apprenticeship and Traineeship in Ireland 2016-2020 sets out targets to increase new enrolments on apprenticeships and traineeships from the current level of fewer than 6,500 to 14,000 by 2020. Following the first call for proposals, several new apprenticeships have begun and more are to be launched later in 2017. The good news is that a second call for proposals for new apprenticeships was issued on 8 May 2017.

The requirement to provide for Ireland's future skills needs is considered in the determination of funding allocations through the service level planning process in the further education and training sector and the system performance framework at higher education level. I, along with the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Bruton, this week launched Springboard 2017, which will provide 6,471 higher education places in areas of identified skills needs. This year, the eligibility criteria have been expanded to include homemakers and those in employment who wish to upskill or reskill in specific high-demand skills areas such as biopharma and med tech.

The Deputy's question is very relevant. We have identified relevant needs and meetings are taking place. Appropriate structures are in place for 2017.

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