Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The short answer is that there are a couple of ways. We have the National Skills Council, which comprises leaders in the public service and industry leaders. That is the national umbrella structure through which we identify and pursue the skills needs of the country. Crucially, we have regional skills fora, and the Minister of State and I have been meeting with them across the country, which bring together the education providers, such as the college, university and the ETB, and the local employers to discuss what is required in the region, for example, Kildare, to ensure they are future-proofing the needs of the regional and local economies. Under the apprenticeship action plan we have put in place specific structures to engage with employers. Frankly, there cannot be apprenticeships without employers. An employer is needed to take on an apprentice. We have listened to their feedback and there are a number of measures in the action plan that will make it easier for businesses to take on more apprenticeships. In addition, we have put it to the public sector to not just lecture the private sector, but to do its bit as well. On the technical versus academic piece, some of the things in the plan regarding CAO reform and showing students all their options and all the different career pathways will also be key.

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