Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way he has supported the upskilling of low skilled workers in the manufacturing sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15563/07]

Tony Killeen (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is fully committed to investing in the upskilling of the Irish labour force. That is why this year this 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 to enter employment. A further €70 million is being provided to train those already in employment. In addition, €130 million, a significant increase on last year's provision, has been made available to fund apprenticeship training programmes and so to cater for the historically high numbers of apprentices.

One of the initiatives that will receive funding from the Department this year is FÁS Basic Workplace Education Fund. This initiative aims to address the basic skills needs of the employed including literacy, numeracy and basic IT communications. There are currently eight Basic Education Fund programmes and they all are designed to enhance employees' basic skills to enable them to cope with frequent and ongoing changes in work practices. The budget for this fund has increased from €2 million in 2006 to €3 million in 2007.

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 accelerate the upskilling of 500,000 people in employment. According to the Strategy over 70% or 1.43 million of our current workforce will still be in employment in 2020. The upskilling of 500,000 individuals within the workforce leading to major awards on the National Framework of Qualifications is a significant challenge, which will require new and innovative delivery and funding models. It will require convincing both employers and employees of the need to and value of upskilling in a fast paced knowledge economy of the future. The Government, employers and individuals will have to work together if we are to achieve this objective. The Government, the relevant Government Departments and State Agencies are fully committed to working with both employers and employees to improve the skills profile of the Irish labour force.