Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach for his kind remarks. We have all heard today about the incredible amount of planning that has gone into supporting all elements of the broad education and training sector through this most difficult period and the work done on reopening schools and third level facilities. As Minister of State with responsibility for skills and further education, I wish to update the House and actions taken to support these sectors in responding to the Covid-19 crisis to date and in future. I will cover the ongoing work to reopen educational facilities generally. As the Minister, Deputy Harris, mentioned, a Covid-19 adaptation framework was developed by the Department of further and higher education, research, innovation and science to assist in this work. Changes to public health advice that are likely to be made throughout 2020 and 2021 will change the shape of the learning experience in further and higher education, and the framework has been developed in a way that eases accommodation of these changes for the sector.

The planning for a return has been significant and is ongoing, but we must remember that managing the response to the Covid-19 crisis will not stop at the end of September. The framework will provide a structure for the ongoing management of the Covid-19 crisis as we move through the academic year. Blended learning will need to continue and be enhanced for learners according to the current local public health situation and prevailing circumstances in the institution and provider. However, as the acting Chief Medical Officer stated earlier this week, there are no zero-risk options for reopening schools or any other environment and outbreaks are likely to arise despite all the best precautions. We must reopen in as safe a way as possible by ensuring that all appropriate public health measures are in place. Physical distancing, hand hygiene and other health and safety guidelines will require adaptations to the physical environment and any new restrictions. Institutions and providers are prepared to show their resilience by responding quickly and innovatively should there be a return to a higher level of restrictions, as they did during the emergency period of the pandemic. Everyone will need to stay abreast of the emerging situation as people return to campuses, training centres and facilities throughout the State. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre and the HSE will continue to publish advice and guidance to help us all deal with the changing situations.

The general principles that apply to the management of Covid-19 include the safety and welfare of employees as well as students and learners. There are responsibilities on all facilities to ensure compliance and it is incumbent on all employees returning to the workplace to comply fully with any plan. In regard to skills, my Department has also been considering how to respond to emerging skills needs in light of the impact of the public health crisis on employment and the labour market and the broader impact of the future world of work in areas such as the green economy and digital skills. The skills infrastructure is well positioned to respond to the impacts of the public health crisis on employment and the labour market.

These issues have been considered by the national training advisory group and the National Skills Council. They bring together employers, Departments and agencies, and education and training providers, and a set of recommendations have been developed through this process. They have been communicated to providers and employer bodies and were included in the national skills summer statement in May. The recommendations emphasised how education and training supports for companies and workers, as well as expanded activities in providing skills and a wider pool of jobseekers, should be informed by medium to long-term skills priorities. This includes responding to the rapid pace of workplace change, which has intensified over the period of the pandemic.

The centrality of digital skills in virtually all occupations, the need to drive the green economy and to respond to the challenge of Brexit, and the importance of leadership and management are made even more apparent as workplace change and product and service innovation have accelerated in recent months. The balance of the impact of the pandemic has also placed an increased emphasis on the need to support regional development and focus on reskilling people in vulnerable employment.

All programmes will need to be delivered flexibly to an increasingly diverse set of learners. In particular, interventions to support jobseekers will be short, focused, agile and well integrated with the workplace. The tertiary education sector is now moving to expand its skills provision to support those displaced or impacted by the crisis. Following the announcement of the July stimulus, the Government is investing in skills through a new initiative, skills to compete, developed by SOLAS and the education and training boards to shape the delivery of education and training for jobseekers.

Funding has been provided to increase system capability for skills development in retrofit. We are expanding Springboard+, rolling out the human capital initiative in higher education, and delivering a set of interventions through Skillnet Ireland.

The health and safety of everyone in further and higher education remains the paramount objective. Our approach is anchored in the national public health advice, as has been shown during the initial emergency period of the pandemic. Having clear lines of communication provides clarity and encourages strong and ongoing engagement with further and higher education which, by its nature, is a diverse sector. Therefore, it is essential that communications are delivered by universities, colleges and training providers with clarity for all learners, research, teaching, service and support staff, stakeholders and industry. There will be continual and ongoing communication with students, learners, staff, stakeholders and industry when the new academic year commences and institutions and providers reopen.

I thank all of the Senators for their contribution during this session. Any specific issues raised with me or the Minister, Deputy Harris, will be responded to directly.

I thank Senators for their support in recognising the further education and training needs of our society and community, in particular apprenticeships. We have a big job of work to do as public representatives to show leadership in the whole area of apprenticeships. Unfortunately, some people within our society view apprenticeships as a lesser form of earning potential and a career path, and a means to an end in terms of finding a sustainable career and job path. We have to try to quell that myth and encourage people, as much as possible, to consider the apprenticeship option. The apprenticeship action plan is in the process of being updated.A public consultation is proceeding on that and while we have approximately 56 recognised apprenticeship programmes at the moment, we must radically expand that into newer areas. Obviously, we welcome the new areas that have come online and on stream recently. In particular, we must address and recognise the gender imbalance across the apprenticeship spectrum. I encourage everybody in the Chamber with leadership roles within their own communities and spheres to push that agenda of apprenticeships.