Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied regarding the availability of sufficient numbers in the workforce to meet the needs of the manufacturing and service sectors in the future; if the requisite level of skills are expected to be available; his plans to address these issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2705/07]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1136: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if adequate training and retraining places are available or expected to become available to ensure that skill requirements are regularly updated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3043/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 1136 together.

In the rapidly changing global environment in which Ireland competes, the changing skills needs of the economy are difficult to predict with certainty. However it is possible to identify trends to assist us make informed policy decisions aimed at minimizing skills shortages in the future. These trends indicate that the skills required in the economy are becoming more sophisticated.

In order to ensure that the existing and future work force has the necessary high level and up-to-date skills, this Department in recent years has:

Significantly increased its allocations for initiatives aimed at improving the skills of those at work,

Provided more focused incentives and supports to encourage those capable of working to enter into active employment, and

Put measures in place to ensure current skills shortages in the indigenous workforce can benefit from immigration.

During 2007, the Department will invest nearly €480 million in training programmes operated by FAS, Skillnets and others organisations. Out of this sum €280 million will be allocated to training programmes to prepare people enter employment. A further €70 million is being provided to train those already in employment — a five fold increase on the allocations in 2004. In addition, €130 million — a significant increase on last year's provision — has been made available to fund apprenticeships training programmes and so to cater for historically high numbers of apprentices.

The high priority given to training and skills development will be maintained and further increased over the course of the National Development Plan, 2007-2013. This announced that a total of €7.7 billion in public funds would be invested in this area over the seven-year period. This demonstrates the importance the Government attaches to having a highly skilled, highly productive, flexible and mobile workforce that will support national competitiveness and sustain economic and social prosperity into the future.