Dáil debates
Wednesday, 24 May 2017
Priority Questions
Skills Development
3:50 pm
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he is satisfied regarding the availability on an ongoing basis of sufficiently-qualified young persons with sufficient skill sets to meet the demands of the modern workplace, academically and technically; the degree to which corrective steps are needed to address deficiencies in this vital area in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24654/17]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question concerns the extent to which an adequately-skilled workforce is available to ensure the continued economic expansion and growth of the country.
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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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.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his comprehensive reply. To what degree does he and his Department continue to identify the likely skills requirements over the next five years? Which areas have been identified as most vulnerable in terms of our ability to meet employers' requirements for necessary skills? I ask that the skills considered include computer technology, which is becoming ever more important. The IT sector needs to be catered for in the area of skills likely to come available and in regard to job creation. The job creation efforts of all Departments will encounter great difficulty unless the skills are available. I seek clarification on those issues.
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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The regional skills fora, RSF, operate under the National Skills Council. To help foster stronger links between employers and the education and training sector, the Department of Education and Skills has established a network of nine regional skills fora, each with a forum manager. The fora have been established to align with wider Government policy initiatives on regional economic development, including the regional action plan for jobs. Indications are that the RSF are having a positive impact at regional level by bringing together key stakeholders to develop swift responses to emerging needs and to gather better data of the needs of enterprise and employers in the region.
On the Deputy's second question on computing skills, we have issued a second call for new apprenticeships. In my earlier reply to Question No. 25 tabled by Deputy Thomas Byrne, I detailed some skills and apprenticeships that we have at present such as ICT network engineer and ICT software developer at level 6 and manufacturing and ICT engineering, which is level 7, as well as engineering service management accounting technicians. There also is a level 6 apprenticeship in IFS financial services.
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To what extent is the Department of Education and Skills in contact with potential employers to monitor the issue from the employers' point of view and determine the degree to which they think particular skills are likely to be required in future or whether, on the basis of information available, the Department will be able to meet that skills demand?
John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Employers are represented on the regional skills forecasting group. The Department is in constant contact with employers through the nine regional skills fora regarding skills development and the situation in terms of the call-out for skills. The Department has been kept up to date with the needs and development of skills throughout the country by the nine regional fora, each of which has a manager who reports to the Department every two to three months.