Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will try to stick to the time.

Access to a high quality, innovative and adaptable talent pool is critical for the sustainable growth of the Irish economy and keeping Ireland competitive. For this reason, equipping the workforce with the skills required for the jobs of today and for those of tomorrow is a strategic priority for the Government.

While skills policy is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, my Department supports the work of the expert group for future skills needs, EGFSN. The EGFSN is an independent body, comprised of business representatives, education providers, trade unions and Government bodies. The body plays a key role in identifying future skills needs of enterprises and advising Government on how those needs can be met so as to enhance competitiveness.

Over the last 20 years, the EGFSN has forecasted skills availability across a wide range of sectors. In recent years, these studies have included sectors such as the marine economy; freight, transport, logistics and distribution, biopharma and hospitality. These reports include a horizon scanning exercise and generate forecasts for skills demand over a five-year period so as to ensure accuracy in forecasting demands.

A relevant example of this is the work undertaken on ICT skills demand forecast this year. In 2013, the EGFSN published the study, Addressing Future Demand for High-Level ICT Skills. This study included a demand forecast for ICT skills over the period 2013-2018. The findings and recommendations of this report were essential inputs into the development of the ICT Skills Action Plan 2014-2018. This year, the EGFSN has engaged in a refresh of the demand forecast exercise undertaken in 2013 for the period 2017-22. This analysis will inform the upcoming ICT skills action plan.

Other EGFSN work under way in 2018 includes skills forecasts across sectors such as food and drink, design, freight transport, distribution and logistics and skills for the digital economy.

My Department provides works permits for those key skills which are in short supply through the employment permits system. This system is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA migrants to fill skills shortages. The objective is balanced by the need to ensure there are no suitably qualified Irish or EEA nationals available to undertake the work and the shortage is genuine. The employment permits system is managed by the operation of the highly skilled eligible occupations list and the ineligible categories list. The rationale underpinning the inclusion or omission from the occupation lists is informed by the EGFSN and the skills and labour market research unit in SOLAS and is augmented by a consultation process.

I will deal with the competition issue.

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