Written answers

Tuesday, 26 May 2015

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Construction Sector Strategy

Photo of Terence FlanaganTerence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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357. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding recent graduates in the quantity surveying sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20722/15]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Securing employment opportunities for those with appropriate skills is a key priority of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, including for those interested in career in the construction sector. In May 2014 the Government published ‘Construction 2020 – a Strategy for a Renewed Construction Sector’ to help deliver a competitive, innovative, dynamic, safe and sustainable construction sector, that can make its proper contribution to the economy and to job creation, that is based on best practice, and that is capable of delivering the economic and social infrastructure we need for the future.

Construction 2020 commits the Government to a detailed set of actions to identify and remove unnecessary blockages to appropriate, high quality development, while ensuring that future growth and activity is sustainable, and underpinned by proper data and analysis. It reflects the Government’s commitment to moving the country away from cycles of boom and bust.

Construction 2020 contains a detailed programme of work, including 75 time-bound actions across a range of issues including ensuring a highly skilled workforce and ensuring opportunities for construction jobseekers. Progress is being made on securing new employment opportunities for those with the skills and interested in making a career in the construction sector. The most recent data from the CSO indicates an increase in employment of 19,600 over the year to the end of the first quarter of 2015. We are working hard to ensure that there are continued opportunities for those with the skills needed to underpin our economic recovery and of the construction sector. Similarly, the most recent Construction Purchasing Managers Index for April 2015 prepared by Ulster Bank indicates a jump in confidence in the sector, with a reading of 57.2, where a figure above 50 indicates growth.

Since publication, our commitment to delivery has been further underpinned by the appointment last July of Minister of State Paudie Coffey, with responsibility for coordinating and driving the important work forward. We have also established a dedicated Cabinet Committee to ensure that focus is maintained at the highest level of Government.

A number of significant milestones have been achieved, and we are seeing welcome and positive signs of recovery in the sector.

In the specific occupation of quantity surveying, it is estimated that there were 3,200 quantity surveyors in employment in Ireland in Quarter 4 2014. There have been signs of employment growth in this occupation since the previous year although the overall size of this occupation is relatively small. Quantity surveyors have appeared in vacancy data showing signs of demand. Recruitment Agencies have reported some vacancies for quantity surveyors that are difficult to fill but these have been limited to specialised areas and candidates with considerable experience (e.g. at least 5 years) were required.

The Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland published Employment Opportunities and Skills Requirements for Property and Construction Surveying 2014-2018andindicated that the most realistic scenario regarding expected growth opportunities for quantity surveyors over the four year period to 2018 is 506 across all levels of experience of which 207 would be at the graduate level.

A key aspect of Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2015 is the National Talent Drive Disruptive Reform. Central to this is strengthening employability of learners and enhancing employer engagement at all levels of education and training. One of the Reform's four stated objectives is to spur a step change in the level of engagement between the education and training system and employers to deliver on skills needed to build the New Economy. Critical to the success of this Disruptive Reform will be active and sustained engagement, and the development of strong partnerships, between the education and training system and employers at a national and regional level. Clear arrangements to connect employers, enterprise development agencies and the education and training system are crucial to strengthening engagement in areas such as: employer input to the development of education and training provision, creating sufficient and sustainable work placement opportunities, including undergraduate internships/work experience to enhance the employability skills of learners and the development of apprenticeships in new economic sectors. Actions 1 to 24 in APJ2015 are directly aimed at achieving this necessary step change.

Programmes such as Springboard and JobBridge are aimed at enhancing the skills of jobseekers and progressing learners to employment in areas where future demand is expected to increase.

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