John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 155: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has identified areas in which there is employment demand but a lack of skills or training; the efforts he has made to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21337/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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My Department is continually examining ways to increase the availability of, and to enhance the success of, education and training provision for the unemployed.

My Department is funding in 2011 the provision of over 154,000 Training places through FÁS, Skillnets and the Labour Market Activation Fund and 172,000 places which the unemployed may access in the Further Education sector as well as 161,900 in the Higher Education sector.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs assists the Government and its agencies with the task of matching skill needs. It advises on future growth sectors and on the skills and training requirements to respond to the future skill needs of the economy. The reports of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs are factored into decisions on education and training provision in as far as is possible.

In addition, the Labour Market Activation Fund provided a mix of programmes covering a broad spectrum of activities in potential high growth areas of the economy. This programme is being evaluated and this evaluation will inform Government policy and decisions on the focus of upskilling programmes in the context of relevant skills needs of the Labour Market. The Springboard programme also aims to provide relevant training opportunities for the unemployed to bring their skill sets into line with employment demand.