Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to reinstate the programme of skills courses with Fáilte Ireland for persons who want to enter the hotel, catering and tourism industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24361/12]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Fáilte Ireland provides and funds a suite of training supports for businesses and individuals through supporting education programmes in the Institutes of Technology and direct supports to employees, managers and businesses in the tourism industry. In total an estimated 18,800 trainees, students, employees and employers will receive training and business support from Fáilte Ireland in 2012.

In particular, it has put in place an agreed strategy in relation to the provision of Hospitality and Tourism Programmes in the Institutes of Technology. This agreement ensures that a sustainable supply of "industry-ready" people are available to Irish Tourism businesses over the medium term. A critical aspect of that collaboration with the education sector is that Fáilte Ireland has sought and achieved the provision of improved training and career prospects for new entrants. New apprenticeship style models have been developed and put in place across the country together with an accelerated training programme for chefs and restaurant service.

Fáilte Ireland considers that this range of courses addresses adequately the training needs of the industry. It is worth noting that Fáilte Ireland has championed the 'earn and learn' approach as the most effective way forward whereby individuals are provided with access to accredited training on campus on a part-time basis while also learning on the job.