Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 128: To ask the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the skills of the labour force are adequate to meet future requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8674/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Government is fully aware of the need to ensure that the skills of the labour force are adequate to meet the future requirements of the economy. That is why we established the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs in 1997 to provide advice to the Government on Ireland's future skills requirements and make recommendations as to how those needs could be met.

The work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs has been central to forecasting Ireland's future skills requirements and identifying the appropriate strategies to meet them. The subsequent implementation of positive recommendations made by the Expert Group has significantly contributed to economic growth and job creation.

Last year, the National Skills Strategy report was launched. This report is based on comprehensive research undertaken at my request by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. It depicts an ambitious vision for the skills profile of Ireland in 2020 and sets out the advances necessary to realise it. The achievement of that vision should enable Ireland to develop a competitive advantage in the area of skills and ensure that we meet the evolving skills needs across the range of economic sectors.

The principle recommendation is on the need to upskill by 2020 an additional 500,000 people by at least one level on the National Framework of Qualifications. We will shortly establish an Inter-Departmental Committee that will be chaired by the Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Minister Sean Haughey, T.D. This Committee will approve an implementation plan for the National Skills Strategy and oversee its activation.

In the interim we have continued with our investment in the continued development of Ireland's human capital. This year alone my Department will invest €77 million in training those in employment. The objective is to reach about 86,000 people. In total and in accordance with commitments contained in Towards 2016 and in the National Development Plan, we will invest approximately €7.7 billion in this vital area over the period 2007-2013.

The Government remains fully committed to providing enhanced education and training opportunities to ensure that, to the greatest extent possible, all citizens have the necessary qualifications and skills to allow them both to lead successful and productive personal and vocational lives, on the one hand, and find enriching work in a national labour market that is characterised by quality jobs, high levels of productivity and competitive advantage vis-À-vis our trading partners.