Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 408: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the action that has been taken to implement the recommendations of the expert group on skills needs in the agri-food sector. [2481/11]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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In its 2009 report on the Future Skills Requirements of the Food and Beverage Sector, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs highlighted the need to up-skill the Irish workforce to ensure the continuing economic growth and prosperity of the country. Funding has been provided by my Department in 2010 and 2011 for Lean Manufacturing and Leadership programmes developed by Enterprise Ireland and for the Marketing Fellowship and Alumnus Programmes developed by Bord Bia in conjunction with the Smurfit UCD Business School. Bord Bia has also initiated a programme with UCD to address a gap in market knowledge in target retail markets. Interventions to improve commercial acumen in the food sector are also being rolled out by Bord Bia and Teagasc.

The Food Harvest 2020 Report recommended prioritising implementation of the relevant findings in the report on Future Skills Requirements of the Food and Beverage Sector as they are important issues for the growth and competitiveness of the food industry. This will be tabled at an early meeting of the Food Harvest 2020 High Level Implementation Committee. The Committee will examine how best the Report's recommendations might be addressed through collaboration between agencies and with industry to ensure that we get the best return for the agri-food sector in terms of growth and employment potential.