Feargal Quinn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Minister of State is welcome back to the House. It must be borne in mind that the VEC system has been around almost untouched since the 1930s. This Bill is a positive move to improve their functioning. It will also reduce the paperwork associated with the various vocational Acts.

I wish to make a couple of broad points related to the objectives of the Bill. I am a little concerned about the lack of solid links between the new education and training boards, ETBs, and the business community. I understand the Minister intends that the ETBs will engage regularly with the business community. However, I firmly believe that this listening process needs to be formalised, namely, the ETBs must listen to the skills need of the business communities. This may require real business representation on the boards. Perhaps that is the case. The Bill provides that the Minister may draw up a list of bodies that can make nominations for membership, for example, business interests etc.. Can we go further than that? The issue of adult learning representatives on the boards has also been raised. It would be sensible to also formalise their participation.

In terms of training and education, this must be linked to outcomes. The Department of Education and Skills does not systematically collect, analyse and distribute information on its employment outcomes. This information is critical for policy makers and higher institutions as it helps them to detect which courses and fields of study that are in high demand among employers. Moreover, this data can help students make better choices on what fields of study to pursue. Some countries, including the Netherlands and Italy already do this. We should be looking to emulate that model. I would like to see this done as it would provide Government with the ability to better target skills shortages and measure success. In my view, this would be a worthwhile initiative. I would welcome the Minister of State's views on it.

Adult literacy and basic cognitive skills should be a key focus in this new structure in terms of job creation. One of the most interesting messages in terms of educational focus is advocated by The World Bank. It argues that education systems, up to 18 years, should focus more on basiccognitive skills such as reading, writing and communication and that vocational training should wait. We are well aware in this country of the huge numbers of children who left school to go into trades and did not then have the skills to adapt when the economy changed. If we focus on basic skills this will allow a flexible workforce. A demonstrable example of this is Poland, which used this asset in the aftermath of its economic and financial crisis. That economy is growing, which many experts put down to its flexible workforce. I believe this is a lesson for Ireland to take on board. What does the Minister think of this concept in terms of the general education system? Can we learn from Poland? Can we ensure that the new ETBs deliver much needed training, such entrepreneurship training?

Could entrepreneurship training be commenced in primary schools? This is done in Norway and is supported by its ministry of trade, local businesses and others. The Norwegian strategy aims to develop knowledge and competencies in students related to entrepreneurial activities, strengthen young people's belief in their creative forces and fosters a culture for entrepreneurship. During the recent Drogheda Local Heroesproject, entrepreneurship classes were run in schools. A transition year student, aged 16, involved with the young entrepreneur programme has set up a shoe customisation business and now has customers in 22 countries, selling her product at ¤17.99 through the Internet. Her only employee is her father. I believe that if we encouraged more of this, in particular at primary level, people would be equipped with skills to stand on their own feet rather than rely on Government. Are there any concrete plans in this directions?

In terms of training, we could do a lot worse if SOLASwere to invest in training people in languages. President Van Rompuy recently highlighted that there are 4 million vacant jobs in the European Union. Irish people cannot access a lot of them owing to their deficiencies when it comes to learning languages. I urge that we try new methods of learning. I recently spoke about the Michel Thomas method of teaching languages, which seems to work well. The Guardian newspaper said of his teaching methods, "He astounded staff at a school in north London by teaching a group of teenagers deemed incapable of learning languages. In one week they had learned the amount of French it normally takes five years to learn". I believe the Minister should strongly consider this method as part of the core of SOLAS. Using this method, there is real potential for people to get a grasp of a language which will open up so many opportunities for them. When Hewlett Packard was recruiting additional employees last year one of the requirements of potential employees was that they be fluent in one European language. This meant most Irish could not apply. Irish people are poor at learning languages. This issue needs to be addressed.

I believe we can do much more than we are doing. However, we are going in the right direction. I encourage the Minister to maintain this standard.