Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 1:

To delete all words after ''Seanad Éireann'' and substitute the following:

''condemns the Government for ignoring the employment crisis with 432,500 people currently on the live register; and calls on the Government to introduce a second chance education scheme, a national internship programme, apprenticeship guarantees, increased community employment schemes and a workshare scheme to take thousands of people off the live register.''.

I apologise for the unavoidable absence on more important business of my colleague, Senator Healy Eames. I am her unworthy replacement.

As a society we face two major challenges and they are inextricably linked. We must deal with an unemployment crisis - as of today we have an additional 5,000 people unemployed - and also restore our economic fortunes. Central to both exercises is the upskilling of the unemployed. Increasing the skills base, innovative capacity and creativity of the entire population is necessary. Recovery in the economy depends on reaching our full potential. In this regard, we must target those at the lower end of the skills base. The largest rate of decline in employment is in the construction sector, with males under the age of 25 years being the worst hit, predominantly in the Border, midlands and west, BMW, area, particularly in my own county of Cavan where 7,500 are currently unemployed, a large cohort of whom are under 25.

It is interesting that 37% of adults in Ireland have not completed second level schooling in full. A total of 18% of Irish pupils do not survive in the system long enough to complete the leaving certificate. Those with poor skills have difficulty in gaining employment. They also face other difficulties in terms of being vulnerable to substance abuse and such difficulties become generational. Predominant among this group are young men and migrants. It is a myth that all migrants are returning to their own countries. There are a large number who have migrated here. An important challenge is presented by upskilling those at levels 1 to 3 - second and third year at second level - to levels 4 to 5 - leaving certificate level. That is the biggest challenge we face in the system.

The percentage of the labour force with higher education qualifications, that is, levels 6 to 10, increased from 33% in 2005 to 39% in 2009 and the target is to reach the figure of 48% by 2020. That is a good news story, which I welcome. The figure at levels 4 and 5 - upper secondary and leaving certificate - has remained at 40% and the target is to reach the figure of 45% by 2020. There is, therefore, much to be done in that regard.

There is a need to combat early school leaving and increase literacy and numeracy skills. There is a need also for integration of literacy and numeracy skills with all publicly funded education and training programmes. All education courses, including apprenticeships and other State funded courses, should have a literacy and numeracy content, the need for which should be established by screening. In May less than half of the 33 VEC adult literacy services had validated programmes leading to certification at level 2. That is not a good news story. This problem must be sorted out. I would be interested to hear the Minister of State's response.

Public funding support for workplace training and education programmes should be attached to the literacy and numeracy content. In the last budget the third level maintenance grant was removed if a person was in receipt of the back to education allowance. While on the face of it that might seem equitable, in practice it is a huge disincentive in returning to school. We have a great deal of experience in that regard. The Leas-Chathaoirleach and I know of many people, through the VTOS and the VEC in County Cavan, who have availed of the back to education allowance and benefited hugely from it. I could chronicle many stories in that regard. Adult education officers are not being replaced because of the moratorium on recruitment. That is not acceptable because of the critical nature of that position. There is a need for additional VTOS and back to education initiative places.

I welcome the provision of the labour activation fund, but it was rushed over Easter. As a result, the design of courses may be rushed. I ask the Minister of State to examine the matter and whether the tendering was rushed also. He should examine the content of courses and ensure there is good validation and good quality courses available. The VECs and PLCs should have primacy in this regard. There is nothing that FÁS has done in contemporary times that should give it primacy over the VECs and PLCs.

We need innovation, problem solving, design and language skills. There are two ends to that market. Many who were carried away by the Celtic tiger and left school prematurely or because of generational or societal difficulties need upskilling in numeracy and literacy, but at the upper end of the market we must upskill people in problem solving, design, computer skills, continental languages and so on - I refer to graduates in many instances - to make them employable.

There are 250,000 people employed in the wholesale and retail business. A total of 50,000 are directly employed in the food and drink sector; some 60,000 are indirectly involved, with 120,000 farmers. There was a proposal to establish an industry forum to deal with upskilling, training and retraining. Will the Minister of State if any progress has been made in that regard. What is the current position, as I am not aware of any progress having been made. There was also a suggestion that we should have a dedicated college. I put a similar question to the Minister in that regard.

By 2020 we will need 3,000 nurses and midwives each year. We will also need an increased number of general practitioners. What is being done in that regard?

My party has a proposal which seems to be eminently sensible or, to use the awful cliché, a no brainer. We should have internships. There should also be part-time placements for graduates. We propose there should be 10,000 such places made available throughout the country. We have a similar proposal in respect of apprenticeships and are also proposing a job sharing initiative. These initiatives should be examined as a way of absorbing graduates into the system and giving them work experience aimed at lifelong learning. Our great inheritance from previous generations was their identification of the importance of education and lifelong education. Education is the key to solving all of our difficulties and in presenting opportunities. I would like to hear the Minister of State's response on these issues. The amendment to the motion states not enough is being done. Nobody could contend otherwise. I am sure Senator Ó Murchú will accept the amendment, without the need for a division.