Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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210. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the most sought after skills in the modern workplace; the degree to which such skills requirements are being met; the degree to which it is expected to address any skill shortages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6554/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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Meeting the requirements of industry is a high priority for the education system and a wide ranging programme of reform is currently being rolled out across all levels of the system to ensure the continued development of skills appropriate to enterprise

My Department has a number of strategies and initiatives in place to ensure that further education and training meets the skills requirements of the workplace. SOLAS with the assistance of relevant experts such as the ESRI, employers and local and national organisations have published a five year strategy for the further education and training sector which provides us with a strategic roadmap for this crucial element of the education and training system. The strategy includes a vision of a flexible, quality-driven, labour market-relevant, integrated and responsive sector that supports learner progression, transitions into employment and personal development.

One of the core objectives under the new Performance Framework for the higher education system is meeting Ireland's human capital needs across the spectrum of skills areas through both core funding and specifically targeted initiatives. Higher Education institutions also engage with enterprise at a local level with a view to the development of programmes tailored to local enterprise needs as well as arranging appropriate work placements etc.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) is funded by my Department advises the Irish Government on current and future skills needs of the economy. It has a central role in ensuring that labour market needs for skilled workers are anticipated and met. The expert group's membership is broad and specifically includes representation from enterprise. Its research provides an input to the development of course curricula and informs the selection of new targeted programmes designed to tackle the skills shortages in particular elements of the economy, such as Momentum, Springboard and the ICT skills conversion programme. A new call for Springboard 2015, to include the ICT skills conversion programme, issued on the 28th January. A guidance document, prepared by EGFSN, on current and future skills needs of enterprise accompanied the call. The skills needs of enterprise identified for course proposals under Springboard 2015 are in areas such as ICT, Manufacturing, Skills to Trade Internationally, Entrepreneurship, Freight Transport, Distribution and Logistics and International Financial Services.

The first National Employers Survey which was undertaken in 2012, by the HEA and IBEC showed that 75% of employers expressed confidence that graduates have the right workplace and transferable skills and the relevant knowledge in their subject and discipline. The second round of this survey was carried out during 2014 by the HEA and SOLAS. The results of the second National Employers Survey will be published shortly.

As part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, my Department has committed to develop a new National Skills Strategy. The development of the strategy will provide an opportunity to determine the volume, type and mix of skills required to meet the Government's goal of full employment by 2018 and the challenges to be addressed to achieve this.