Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if there are strategies or plans proposed to anticipate and identify in advance the changing educational and training requirement of low skilled or semi-skilled workers engaged in the construction industry; his views on the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39709/06]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The question of providing appropriate education and training for low skilled and semi-skilled workers in the construction industry is kept under regular review and there are currently a number of research projects being conducted on the subject.

First, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which is made up of representatives of a range of interests concerned with future skills needs and reports jointly to the Minister for Education and Science and to me, has established a Steering Group to oversee research into the particular needs of the construction industry. This research is being led by the research department of FÁS and will consider the growth of the construction sector in general and the likely trends across the various occupations within the sector.

Second, the EGFSN has also conducted major research on Ireland's future skills needs. While, this study, which was previewed at the National Skills Conference in Farmleigh in October, and covered the whole economy, some of its major conclusions are also relevant to the construction sector. Overall, the research suggests that Ireland will need to up-skill a large number of employed persons over the next decade if we are to achieve our goal of becoming a successful competitive and inclusive society.

Third, the Deputy may also wish to be aware of a research study in respect of the construction industry that is being conducted across both Ireland and the United Kingdom into labour mobility. This study will involve a large-scale survey of the construction industry, and help us to better understand working patterns in this sector. FÁS is supporting the Irish element of the study.

A very large number of apprentices are trained for the construction industry each year by FÁS, the Institutes of Technology and, of course, the industry itself. The Universities and Institutes of Technology provide education across the range of professional occupations such as engineering, surveying, and architects. FÁS also provides training for those already working in the industry.