Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 124: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment his views on proposals put forward by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for the introduction of paid learning leave to enable workers to up-skill. [25419/07]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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I have noted with interest the proposal put forward by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for the introduction of paid learning leave to enable workers to up-skill.

Earlier this year I asked the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs to examine paid learning leave and wage compensation so as to determine if it would be an appropriate mechanism to stimulate demand and participation for training and upskilling in Ireland. The Expert Group are currently discussing this issue and they are likely to come to a view on it over the next couple of months.

In addition, FÁS are currently undertaking paid learning leave pilot programmes. They are focused on workers in the manufacturing sector with low skills and who have received no training or qualification in the past 5 years with the same employer. It is still too early to determine the success of these programmes but a full evaluation is due in February of next year. That will provide an important input to determining the most appropriate response in this area and the emphasis and scope of any such response.