Dan Boyle (Cork South Central, Green Party)
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Question 28: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he is taking to address the European Commission's assessment that relatively little attention is paid to the issues of quality of work and poverty among employed people in the Irish national reform programme. [11379/06]

John Gormley (Dublin South East, Green Party)
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Question 52: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the action he is taking to address the European Commission's criticism that the Irish national reform programme is not paying sufficient attention to adult participation in learning or the provision of affordable, high quality child care services. [11380/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 52 together.

The overall assessment of the Irish national reform programme, NRP, by the European Commission is very positive. It acknowledges the strong labour market performance in Ireland over the past five years and the effectiveness of our policies to sustain and enhance employment growth. The emphasis in the NRP on measures to integrate inactive people into the labour market, to increase female participation and to address skills development are seen as particularly positive elements.

The NRP is an integrated document covering policies across a number of Government Departments. The employment aspect was prepared in consultation with a number of Departments, including the Departments of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Education and Science and Social and Family Affairs. As required under the Lisbon Agenda, the national reform programme outlines the policy priorities for the next three years and is not designed to be a comprehensive statement of all existing measures/programmes. There is an extensive body of employment legislation in place, for example, which ensures that workers rights are enhanced and protected and it is not covered in the report.

Quality of work is a multidimensional concept encompassing issues such as upskilling, lifelong learning, health and safety at work, adaptability, work-life balance and equal opportunities. These are addressed throughout the report and, together with the range of existing measures, are designed to ensure that the quality of work in Ireland is enhanced. Responsibility for policy to address poverty among employed people cuts across a number of Government Departments, including the Departments of Finance and Social and Family Affairs. In so far as my Department is concerned, the national minimum wage aims to ensure that employees are provided with a certain level of income. This is reviewed on a regular basis with the current rate at €7.65 per hour effective since 1 May 2005.

As regards adult participation in learning, the Department of Education and Science has the main responsibility in this area. My Department has placed increased emphasis on training employees, particularly those with low skill levels, to gain new skills and qualifications, through the one step up initiative. Over the period 2005-07, funding for supports and services under this initiative will total over €150 million.

Responsibility for the provision of affordable, high quality child care services is a matter for the office for children.