Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 79: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which he expects to be in a position to influence the number of up skilling or retraining places likely to become available on an annual basis over the next five years; the extent to which he expects this to impact positively on the economy in the short and medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31235/12]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 81: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he will take to address the issues arising from the economic downturn whereby many persons find themselves unemployed and with no ready access to employment and no particular skills; if his Department is in a position to provide a positive contribution towards the provision of educational opportunities, training, part time or other options which may combine the efforts of his Department with other Departments in addressing the educational training and employment needs of particularly long term unemployed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31237/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 81 together.

The Government's activation policy, 'Pathways to Work', provides for engagement by the National Employment and Entitlements Service with unemployed people, particularly the long-term unemployed, with a view to assisting them in finding jobs or referrals to appropriate education and training. To complement this policy, and despite reducing resources, my Department will fund over 450,000 education and training places across the range of provision in the higher education, further education and training sectors in 2012. My Department and its agencies are prioritising places, including in the further education and training sector, specifically for those on the Live Register for 12 months or more.

The focus of education and training supports for the unemployed centres around activation measures aimed at improving the employability of unemployed persons by providing timely career assessment and guidance to promote relevant job searching, training, education and employment opportunities. To this end the new Labour Market Education and Training Fund will be specifically targeted at the long-term unemployed and will deliver upward of 6,500 training places in 2012. It is intended that funding will be distributed across four different themes focusing on vacancies and likely employment opportunities within specific Labour Market sectors in demand. There will also be a more general theme focusing on the specific needs of younger people who are unemployed.

Within the last 18 months my Department has also introduced "Springboard" which is being managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), to address specific skills needs of enterprise and support jobseekers into employment. Over 70% of unemployed people and 60% of those experiencing long term unemployment have at least a Leaving Cert level of education. In recognition of the fact that upskilling through higher education can open up a range of new employment opportunities for unemployed people with good workforce skills, Springboard, strategically targets funding of part-time higher education and training opportunities in areas where there are identified labour market skills shortages or expanding employment opportunities.

Furthermore, my Department's actions will support the Government's "Action Plan for Jobs", which sets out how the Government will target different sectors with new policy supports for creating employment opportunities. Under this ambitious plan the Government expects to create up to 100,000 jobs over the next 4 years. My Department will play a key role in the successful implementation of this plan to ensure people have the relevant training and competencies so they can compete for jobs in all sectors as they arise.