Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 209: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he has had discussions with the Department of Education and Science regarding measures to assist workers undertaking postgraduate courses for the purposes of upskilling, retraining or career advancement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8044/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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While the provision of postgraduate courses is in the first instance a matter for the Minister for Education and Science, there is regular and ongoing contact between the two Departments, both in the identification of national skills needs and in the production of co-ordinated policy responses to meet those needs.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs is charged with advising both the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Minister for Education and Science on matters relating to the skills needs of the economy, including those at graduate and post-graduate level. This Group, which also has representatives from the two Departments and from their respective agencies, is one of the principal forums dedicated to addressing skills issues at the nexus of the education and training strands of policy.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs recently finalised research to underpin a National Skills Strategy to address skill needs to the year 2020. This report, which will be launched shortly, contains recommendations about the need to upskill workers at all levels in the National Framework of Qualifications including at post graduate level.