Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which the primary, second and third level educational sectors are currently focused on meeting the skills requirements subsequent to their education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38446/14]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that there is a wide ranging programme of reform underway across the education and training sector and one of the key aims is to ensure the continued development of skills appropriate to enterprise, particularly through the implementation of the National Literacy and Numeracy Strategy, reform of the Junior Cycle, the establishment of the local Education and Training Boards and SOLAS, reform of Higher Education and the Review of Apprenticeships.

Since 2011, targeted funding continues to be allocated for further and higher education and training opportunities in areas where there are skills shortages identified by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

The HEA has recently published the first System Performance Report on how higher education performance will align with the broader national objectives of the Higher Education Strategy. While the report has noted that programmes and disciplines are well aligned to what the market needs, there are high rates of employer satisfaction with graduates entering the workforce, and there is good and improving graduate employment, it also recognises that there is a need for improved liaison between the HEIs and industry/enterprise. The HEA acknowledges the need to continue to monitor and report on this engagement. With this in mind, the HEA is developing an engagement strategy as part of its 2014 work plan, the completed strategy is expected by the end of this year.