Brian Hayes (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 25: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the way he will significantly upskill the workforce here at all levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18986/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Government recognises the importance of up-skilling the workforce to maintain a successful economy. Government policy in this regard has been informed by the report of the Enterprise Strategy Group and that of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs — Towards a National Skills Strategy — published earlier this year. The latter sets challenging objectives to be realised by 2020. We are now considering the most effective way of realising them.

The Enterprise Strategy Group's report recommended the establishment of a 'One-Step-Up' initiative. The vision behind this initiative is that everyone in the workforce should be aiming to move up the qualifications ladder — in line with Ireland's economic development strategy of moving up the 'value chain'. The National Skills Strategy report advocates and comprehensively justifies the need for a more highly educated workforce by 2020. This will involve both increased participation of young people in second and third-level education and the up-skilling of some half a million persons within the labour force.

Accordingly, the Government has made provision for an investment of €7.7 billion in training and skills development under the National Development Plan to 2013. It includes €2.8 billion to improve Workplace Adaptability. This budget will include providing training for people in employment, upskilling those affected or likely to be affected by industrial restructuring, enhancing the apprenticeship system and providing progression opportunities for school leavers. In recent years the Government has significantly increased funding to FÁS and Skillnets to provide training opportunities for employed persons. Funding available to FAS has increased more that five fold between 2004 and the current year and now totals €43 million– that provided to Skillnets has increased almost three fold to €23 million.

I have asked the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs to advise on a number of possible approaches to realising the objectives of the National Skills Strategy. In that work, the Expert Group will be informed by considerations of how best to make both employers and individuals more aware of the benefits of training and how significant resources and facilities can best be provided in an equitable way. This work will also encompass an assessment of the provision of information and advice for adults interested in upgrading skills and vocational competencies, including the recognition of existing skills and work experiences. It will also address how education and training systems now respond to the needs of learners and workers and how they might be adjusted to provide more flexible and convenient options and meet individual and local needs of workers and employers alike.