Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

We have had a constructive debate. I am always impressed by how constructive and co-operative Seanad debates are. They are less combative than they are in the Lower House and I thank Senators for their contributions.

A number of questions were raised and I will endeavour to answer as many of them as possible. Many Senators referred to the need for co-operation between various Departments and agencies in this area. For the first time, we are achieving that co-operation. My appointment as Minister of State with responsibility for lifelong learning at the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment represents progress in this regard, as it is an attempt to bring about co-ordination in the delivery of our education and training programmes.

The upskilling co-ordination group is an important body and comprises representatives of all of the major education and training players. It is bringing about the co-ordination discussed by Senators. The inter-departmental committee on the implementation of the national skills strategy comprises representatives of the Departments of Education and Science, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Finance. I assure Senators that Departments and State agencies are co-ordinating on these matters.

A number of Senators referred to the position of construction workers, a problem that I recognise. FÁS training courses are available to everyone who is unemployed. Many redundant construction workers are being reskilled in new occupational areas where employment opportunities exist. FÁS is providing a variety of training courses in the sustainable technologies sector to give construction workers new skills. These include courses in the installation of solar panels and wood pellet burners and training in assessing building energy rating certificates and are available in the majority of FÁS training centres. Senators Ó Domhnaill and O'Reilly raised this matter. Specific measures have been put in place to enable 3,800 redundant apprentices to progress their apprenticeships this year.

Senator Mullen raised a number of issues, particularly the Student Support Bill 2008. It is hoped that Committee Stage will commence following the resolution of some legal issues with the Attorney General's office.

Many Senators outlined their opinions on the importance of lifelong learning. While we are debating it in the context of its importance to our economy, Senator Mullen and others pointed out that it is also good for the individual in terms of his or her social and personal development, family and community and for society as a whole. Lifelong learning is important for our economic development, but its other aspects, such as further education for which I have responsibility, are important for our society. Attending various events around the country to give out certificates to people who have taken the huge leap of returning to education and seeing their satisfaction and that of their families is wonderful and makes everything the Department of Education and Science is doing in terms of further education worthwhile.

I acknowledge the contribution of Senator MacSharry and confirm that the policy document on an entrepreneurship education strategy for Ireland produced by him and others is being examined by the Department. The Seán Lemass award for excellence in enterprise is derived from it. The student enterprise awards are administered by the city and county enterprise boards and there is something called the mini-company programme for transition year students. It is proposed that the top three projects from each of the two programmes would go forward to receive the Seán Lemass award. It is envisaged that a special event will be arranged in mid-May of next year. Hopefully, the Taoiseach will be present. The awarding of certificates to the participants and the schools involved will be made at that time. This is a direct result of the policy document submitted by Senator MacSharry and others regarding the need to promote entrepreneurship throughout our education system.

Senator Ryan asked a number of questions, but I am not sure whether I will be able to deal with them all this afternoon. He referred to the work placement programme, which will provide 2,000 people who have been unemployed with six-month work experience placements. The first stream is for unemployed graduates and the second stream is open to all other unemployed individuals who have been receiving jobseeker's allowance for the past six months. Under this stream, 250 places are being ring-fenced for those under 25 years of age. The statistics demonstrate that there is a problem in respect of that age group. All of the efforts of the Departments of Education and Science and Enterprise, Trade and Employment will examine this issue to determine what can be done.

Senator O'Reilly mentioned the junior certificate. To clarify, there are no definite proposals on the abolition of that examination at this time. A headline on its abolition in last weekend's Sunday Tribune suggested it would save €30 million. The Minister for Education and Science, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, has concerns regarding the junior certificate and how it operates. In particular, he is concerned about the emphasis on rote learning, which he views as a problem. He has asked the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment to consider the junior certificate to determine whether and what improvements could be made. However, this process is at an early stage and there are no definite proposals.

Regarding some of the other questions raised, I agree with all of Senator Mullen's comments on the crucial role of the institutes of technology and the specialist knowledge they bring. Indeed, they have not been found wanting in the current crisis. They have been responsive, have recognised where there was excess capacity and have introduced new proposals to deal with that issue. Every economic player has been responsive to the current crisis.

The Irish Vocational Education Association has been extremely constructive and organised various seminars and conferences on how the VEC sector can respond to the difficulties we face and the need for upskilling and retraining. Upskilling is vital to the economy during the economic downturn. We need to gain a competitive advantage over our trading partners. The national skills strategy is in place. We face a huge challenge in upskilling 500,000 people by at least one level in the national framework of qualifications by 2020.

In the short term the emphasis will be on the unemployed. The workforce also includes those who have lost their jobs. All our efforts are concentrated on them. Employment activation is constantly under review. A large number of measures were brought forward in the April budget. This area continues to be looked at with a view to bringing forward appropriate measures in due course having regard to the resources available. The need for employment activation is constantly under review, while new proposals are continually being examined.