Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

These matters are being examined in the Department with the assistance of outside consultants. I agree the issue requires to be carefully examined.

The national skills strategy made the recommendation that literacy and numeracy development should be embedded in all publicly funded programmes and sets out an economic imperative for the upskilling of workers with low or no qualifications. We must adhere to this. The back to education initiative, BTEI, involves the provision of programmes on a part-time basis. The BTEI plays a key role both in addressing the needs of those with minimal or no educational qualifications, and in providing for those who wish to upgrade their skills in line with emerging needs. An increase of €1.35 million for the expansion of part-time options under this programme is being provided in 2007. The recent introduction of FETAC qualification levels one to two is also an important move in this regard. This development will particularly assist those partaking of adult basic education programmes.

I note the comments of Senator Buttimer on FETAC. Sanction has been given to that body for a comprehensive new computer system which will deal with many of the issues he raised. The provision of financial and guidance supports is critical if we are to encourage people to take advantage of the schemes on offer and help adults overcome the obstacles preventing them from making the decision to return to education.

The adult educational guidance initiative is one initiative in that regard. Annual grants are given to VECs towards the cost of child care support for those partaking of full-time programmes such as Youthreach, senior Traveller training centres and VTOS. Extra finance has been provided this year to extend child care support to the back to education initiative, a part-time programme. An increase in funding will be provided for child care in 2007.

To underpin the significant progress made in recent years in second-chance, adult and continuing education, the Government has provided increased funding on an annual basis. As Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong learning, my aim is to achieve a strong further education sector which is fully recognised, staffed, structured and resourced and which is treated on a par with first, second and third level education.

The Government fully realises that to sustain our economic growth we must continue to invest in the skills of our workforce. We must ensure we have the necessary blend of skills required to succeed as a knowledge-based economy. As Senators stated, Ireland is competing in an ever increasing global competitive marketplace, where the key to success is establishing competitive advantage. Despite our recent economic feats, we cannot afford to become complacent. We must constantly review our education and training provision to ensure we are meeting the needs of industry and the economy. We must prepare for the future by taking action today.

Accordingly, we must encourage greater participation in lifelong learning by facilitating and motivating employees to increase their skill levels and qualifications, to acquire new skills and knowledge in different areas and to renew existing skills to stay abreast of technology and other developments. This is something on which the Government has been focusing in recent years and it will continue to do so. In 2007, the Government will invest approximately €70 million in the provision of training programmes for those in employment. Senators will agree our commitment is clear if we compare this to the €8 million that was the equivalent State investment in 2004.

The Government's key providers for the provision of training for those in employment are FÁS and Skillnets. FÁS, through its One Step Up programme, aims to encourage employees to increase their competency levels and promote an ethos of lifelong learning in the workplace. This will ensure skill and qualification levels match present and future human resource requirements for continuous economic growth and competitive advantage. It will also enable employees to cope with frequent and ongoing changes in the workplace.

Skillnets, on the other hand, is an enterprise-led support body whose mission is to enhance the skills of people in employment in industry to support competitiveness and employability. It is funded from the national training fund and its stakeholders include leading employer and employee representative bodies. Between them, FÁS and Skillnets will provide training for approximately 55,000 people this year. In accordance with Government commitments contained in the Towards 2016 agreement, FÁS and Skillnets have been instructed to focus on the provision of training for the low skilled.

I am delighted to state that on foot of this direction last month, the FÁS board gave approval to enter into six strategic alliances with representatives of the trade union sector to support employment prospects through raising skills levels, especially through training those with low skills levels or in vulnerable employment. These strategic alliances will provide training for almost 3,500 people at a cost of €8.8 million.

It was because of the importance of education and skills for Ireland's economic development that the expert group on future skills needs was convened to undertake comprehensive research to underpin the development of a national skills strategy. This report sets out clear objectives for developing Ireland's human capital through upskilling, training and education up to 2020. Delivering on these objectives will ensure our education and training systems meet the skills requirements of the economy.

The national skills strategy is not a stand-alone policy initiative. Instead, it builds on existing Government policy such as the social partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and the national development plan, in which the Government entered into specific commitments aimed at upskilling the workforce. The national skills strategy also complements the vital strategy for science, innovation and technology which was launched by the Government last year. These publications support skills development from the foundation level to the very highest academic level. Together, these four documents have set the agenda and objectives for what Ireland must achieve in the medium term if it is to maintain and enhance the living standards of its citizens.

In an ever increasing global marketplace, the Government is committed to ensuring Ireland continues to embrace its transition to a dynamic, knowledge-based economy. The objectives contained in the expert group's report have provided us with a road map that will assist us in achieving our potential. The Government is determined to achieve the vision contained in the report, for which it has already initiated an implementation process.

While the State has a key role to play in achieving the vision contained in the national skills strategy, enterprises and individuals also need to play a major role. The expert group on future skills needs is examining specific measures to spur employers and employees to engage in training and education, which is a significant challenge. Proposed initiatives include paid learning leave, individual learning accounts, tax measures, brokerage services and the possible establishment of regional skills advisory groups.

Enterprise needs to identify and articulate clearly its short and long-term skills needs. These must be proactively communicated to education and training providers at regional, sectoral and national level. Enterprise also needs to work in collaboration with providers in developing programmes which respond to those needs. Individuals need to recognise the benefits further education and training can provide them for both their career and personal development, and they must also have the initiative and commitment to undertake these programmes. This will require having confidence in investing time and money in their own future. Only by taking co-ordinated action through this three-pronged approach can we hope to realise the vision contained in the national skills strategy.

The Government is committed to the development and maintenance of a high quality education and training system which is democratically managed, publicly accountable and provides opportunities for learning on a lifelong basis. Equality of access and participation, relevance and quality assurance are the cornerstones of our educational policy. The cross-departmental element of my brief puts emphasis on the education and training spheres at Government level. The Government has undertaken to develop the further education sector in line with the recommendations set out in the national skills strategy. Much remains to be achieved in the adult and further education sector which has huge potential. I look forward to maximising this potential to the benefit of everyone involved.