Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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189. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she has a strategy to help incentivise and promote careers in the hospitality and catering sectors; if she is aware that such careers are particularly important in peripheral and rural areas where other career options may be limited; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18941/15]

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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190. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures in place for training persons for the hospitality and craft sectors; her plans regarding the advancement of this sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18943/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN), together with the SOLAS Skills & Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU), is currently undertaking a study 'Assessing Future Skills Requirements of the Hospitality Sector 2015-2020'.

The study will assess the current and planned domestic supply of hospitality-related skills from higher education, further education and training, and private sector provision and map identified skills needs against this provision. The scale and nature of the developmental response required to address such gaps will also be identified.

The study is expected to include recommendations on measures to build up the domestic skill supply of talent over the period 2014-2020, including through (a) the higher education and further education systems; continuing professional development; and talent retention initiatives. It will also advise on optimising the use of existing resources – in both Government and the private sector.

The Further Education and Training (FET) Services Plan (2015) estimates that there will be 3,101 beneficiaries of FET provision in the Food and Beverages sectors in 2015. The plan also estimates that there will be 9,195 beneficiaries of FET provision in the Tourism and Sport sectors in 2015. Overall in 2015 there is an estimated increase of 4,768 beneficiaries of FET provision in these sectors.

SOLAS is also currently engaged in the development of a pilot Career Traineeship model of training programme delivery for the hotel sector. This model is being developed in partnership with Education and Training Boards (ETBs) the Irish Hotel Federation, Failte Ireland and hoteliers.These pilot training programmes will commence in the last quarter of 2015. In addition, Momentum 2 provides for 1,334 places for the Hospitality Sector.