Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Deputy Matthews that we need to do that. We have the pathways to work strategy and we are working on it. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, is committed to providing 50,000 additional education and training places, supporting the delivery of actions set out in the apprenticeship action plan and supporting 50,000 long-term unemployed into further education and training by 2025.

My Department is expanding the capacity of public employment services. We have established a new work placement and experience programme for those out of work for at least six months, regardless of age. We have a number of other supports. We work with employers and the unemployed and we try to match them. If there is a need for further skills, we will offer people those skills through the further education system to upskill or reskill them.

As the Deputy is aware, there is currently a shortage in the labour market and the intention is to help people find jobs that they want to do and that they enjoy doing.

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