Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 170: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the extent to which he has satisfied himself regarding the adequacy of future numbers and skills of the labour force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24122/06]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Our economy now has more than 1.9 million people in employment and continues to experience growth. This has led to skills shortages in some areas. However, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) has been charged with monitoring emerging Ireland's skills requirements. Since 1997, it has produced estimates of skills requirements by sector, including in ICT, Biotechnology, Finance, Engineering, and Construction. These estimates are regularly updated as the influencing factors change.

The EGFSN provides my Department with a summary of current and future skills requirements in the form of a National Skills Bulletin. This identifies areas of growth where skills are in short supply; and also contains data on skills supply provided through the education and training system. It also provides advice to both my Department and the Department of Education and Science on how numbers and skills needs may be met through education and training, as well as through managed migration.

Additionally much has been done to ensure that the skills needs of the economy can, to the extent possible, be addressed through the upskilling of the existing workforce. Significantly, increased funding has been made available since 2005 for in-company training and for the development and expansion of the education system. My Department is currently preparing a National Skills Strategy which will review the likely skill needs of the economy to 2020.