Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 134: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way he proposes to meet his targets in relation to the upskilling of the labour force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15711/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The recently published National Skills Strategy sets out clear long-term objectives in developing Ireland's human capital through upskilling, training and education for the period to 2020. The Strategy will be essential in ensuring that Ireland's education and training systems are able to meet the future demands of industry in the medium to longer term.

One of the key recommendations of the National Skills Strategy is the need to raise the educational and skills levels of 500,000 people in employment. The upskilling of 500,000 individuals within the workforce leading to awards on the National Framework of Qualifications is a significant challenge, which will require new and innovative delivery models. It will require convincing both employers and employees of the need to and value of upskilling in a knowledge economy. The Government, employers and individuals will have to work together if we are to achieve this objective.

This will be achieved through significant additional investment in the labour force. In the course of the National Development Plan overall about €7.7 billion in public funds will be used to support training and skills development. This is indicative of the importance that the Government attaches to having a skilled, productive, flexible and mobile workforce that will support national competitiveness and sustain economic and social prosperity into the future.

My Department will this year invest nearly €480 million in training programmes operated by FÁS, Skillnets and others organisations to upskill the labour force. Out of this sum €280 million will be allocated to training programmes to prepare people to enter employment. A further €70 million is being provided to train those already in employment a significant increase on allocations in recent years. 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 the historically high numbers of apprentices.

In order to ensure that we meet our objectives on upskilling I will ask the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs to identify the most suitable initiatives to incentivise employers and workers to fully engage in training and education at all stages and at all ages.

The Expert Group will also report annually to me on progress in relation to the findings contained within the National Skills Strategy.