Liz McManus (Wicklow, Labour)
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Question 122: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps being taken to implement the commitment in the Programme for Government to expand the role of FÁS and Enterprise Ireland to increase the employer commitment to training, particularly in the SME sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25390/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Both FÁS and Enterprise Ireland are taking the necessary steps to expand their role in increasing employer commitment to training, in accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government.

The FÁS budget for the training of the employed has been substantially increased, including that for training and development owner/managers and employees in SMEs. This has allowed FÁS to enter into Strategic Alliances with third party organisations, including employers, associations to deliver training. Three of these Alliances specifically target the SME sector including:

a project on providing a range of business skills appropriate to meet the growth related needs of Irish SMEs,

an alliance with the Small Firms Association to establish a National Centre of Excellence for SME training and

the development of a Scholarship Programme and SME training courses with ISME.

Earlier this year FÁS further expanded their offerings to the SME sector by approving a range of management development programmes for SMEs at a projected cost of €10m for 8,200 owners/managers. The IMI, Chambers Ireland, the Small Firms Association, ISME and others will deliver these programmes.

In relation to Enterprise Ireland their overall mission is to accelerate the development of world-class Irish companies to achieve strong positions in global markets, resulting in increased national and regional prosperity. Developing the leadership and management capabilities in Irish companies, including SMEs and encouraging the acquisition of critical skills within those companies is vitally important to this overall objective.

Recent developments by Enterprise Ireland to build up its offering to client companies in this area include the Leadership 4 Growth Programme, provided in conjunction with Stanford University in the US. The follow on to this programme involves individual management development and training investments in these companies supported by Enterprise Ireland.

A programme for CEOs in the software and life sciences sector has recently begun and work is in progress on a leadership programme for CEOs in the construction sector.

Enterprise Ireland currently offer Management Development Programmes that will enable the owners/managers/CEOs to build their ambition and capability and with this experience to go on to build the skills at all levels within the companies. Enterprise Ireland also offers the International Selling Programme and the MSc in International Business, to their clients, which aim to develop employees key competencies and skills vital to succeeding in global markets.

Earlier this year I also established the Management Development Council upon which both FÁS and Enterprise Ireland are represented — the Council will, over the next three years, focus on ensuring the provision of management development opportunities for all SMEs. The Council has been charged with examining the existing provision of management development provision for SMEs, to determine if there are any gaps in this provision and propose solutions to address these gaps.

The Council also has responsibility for developing a coordinated approach to building appreciation in the SME sector for the value and need of leadership and management skills. It is hoped that by convincing SME managers and owners of the benefits of training, this will act as a gateway to increasing their commitment to the provision of training for their employees.