Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 231: To ask the Minister for Education and Science further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 720, 721, 722 and 740 of 22 April 2009, the way the Higher Education Labour Market Response Group is in anyway different to the Upskilling Co-ordination Group; the bodies and Departments which are members of these two groups; the way the two groups differ in their focus and aims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16883/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has been working closely with the HEA and third level institutions over the last 6 months in seeking to identify ways in which the third level sector can respond to the up-skilling needs of people who are losing their jobs or are facing uncertain employment prospects. This process resulted in the development of a number of new initiatives to support unemployed people engage in up-skilling in the third level sector, as outlined in my response to Question Nos. 720, 721, 722 and 740 of 22 April 2009.

The purpose of establishing the Higher Education Labour Market Response Group is to provide for a more formal structure to the process that has already been under way in order to further develop the initiatives already announced and to identify other appropriate responses which the third level sector can contribute in this area. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Secretariat to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs is also represented on the Group. The primary focus of the Group which is chaired by the HEA is on further developing the specific contribution of the Third level institutions to the activation agenda.

The Up-skilling Co-ordination Group was established by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment in early 2007 in order to facilitate a more co-ordinated strategic approach to labour force up-skilling and training policy and enhance co-operation between relevant Departments and agencies on relevant policy and operational issues. My Department participates in this Group which also includes representatives of FAS, Skillnets, Enterprise Ireland, the City and County Enterprise Boards, Forfas, the HEA, and the VEC and IoT sector.