Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 174: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he will bring forward proposals to address the shortage of skills in certain sectors of the economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25385/05]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government's action plan to implement the recommendations of the Enterprise Strategy Group will move our economy to one that is knowledge-based and innovation-driven. The action plan includes measures to address skills shortages.

Skills shortages are identified by the expert group on future skill needs, which is convened under the auspices of Forfás. My Department has recently asked that group to commission a study to focus on possible future skills shortages at levels below graduate level. This will facilitate the formulation of a national skills strategy to provide a strategic framework for the One Step Up, Lifelong Learning and other training initiatives.

The action plan's measures to address skills shortages include both: the development of a strategic skills-based immigration policy and the raising of the skills levels of those resident here. As far as a skills-based immigration policy is concerned, the Employment Permits Bill 2005 published on 29 June last, contains provisions that will empower me to introduce a green card-type system for skilled labour immigration. My intention is that the legislation will be enacted during the current parliamentary session. I envisage that the green card arrangements for skilled migrants will be introduced in 2006.

Extensive research and consultations have been undertaken by Forfás and by the expert group on future skill needs. This will inform the provisions of an economic migration policy to address the skills needs of the economy into the future. The Forfás work has indicated that the sectors where there are shortages include the following: construction, financial, engineering and information and communications technologies.

As regards raising the skill levels of those resident here, both those at work and those seeking to enter the labour market, I recently launched the One Step Up initiative which is funding a variety of training projects including basic skills provision for low skilled employees, occupational specific training in various sectors and SME entrepreneurial development. This is another contribution to advancing the Life Long Learning agenda. FÁS are implementing the initiative and I have provided a budget of €35 million for this purpose in the current year. One Step Up will contribute to ensuring that workers have the necessary competencies and flexibility in line with the developing needs of the undertakings for which they work.

Accordingly, we will continue to remedy skills shortages by bringing in necessary highly skilled migrants that are not available within the confines of the European Economic Area, and by enhancing the skills of those already resident here.