Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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455. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which it is expected that the skills available through those on the live register can be matched to the skill requirements of the work place in respect of the indigenous and foreign direct investment sectors over the course of the next three years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23285/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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My Department works closely with the enterprises, development agencies, the Department of Social Protection and the Department of Education and Skills on monitoring skills availability and skill needs and ensuring that those on the live register are best placed to take up job opportunities as the economy recovers. We are working closely to achieve an unemployment rate to 6% by 2020 as set in the Programme for a Partnership Government, sustaining the progress in reducing the unemployment rate from 15.1% in 2012 to 7.8% in June of this year. Under Pathways to Work 2013, a Protocol on cooperation between the Department of Social Protection, the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the enterprise agencies was agreed. The aim of the Protocol is to maximise the recruitment of suitably skilled personnel from the Live Register by the enterprise agencies client companies.

The parties to the Protocol are my own Department, the Department of Social Protection, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, the Local Enterprise Offices (formerly County Enterprise Boards) and Údarás na Gaeltachta

The Protocol has been maintained under both the new Pathways to Work 2016-2020 strategy and the Action Plan for Jobs strategy 2016. The Protocol is in place to ensure that there are good working arrangements at local level to share information, cooperate on awareness and promotion activities, match enterprise needs for existing and new projects, engage on conversion and training needs and ensure companies can avail of Intreo placement services.

The practical outcomes of the Protocol are primarily at local level - closer working relationships, exchange of key information on jobs opportunities, attending each other’s events, sharing promotional literature, etc. is now commonplace. On 17 May last, some 160 representatives of the Protocol groups attended a Dublin Castle event to share best practices, network and discuss the impact of new strategies such as the Regional Action Plan for Jobs and the Regional Skills Fora.

In addition, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) reports to me and to the Minister for Education and Skills provides information on employment trends, job opportunities and demand for skills. It produces an annual “National Skills Bulletin” and “Vacancy Overview” reports. It also provides information on the supply of skills from the Irish education system through the “Monitoring Ireland’s Skills Supply” publication. The EGFSN publishes reports on specific sectorial, or cross-sectoral skills needs. In addition, it produces “Regional Labour Markets Bulletins”.

Recent EGFSN reports have anticipated future job opportunities arising from both expansion and replacement demand for a range of occupational roles. These include ICT, data analytics, manufacturing, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, food and beverages. Further opportunities are also anticipated in international sales and marketing, project management, freight transport, distribution and logistics, and in the hospitality sector.

Co-operation between employers and the education and training system is crucial in developing effective responses to skills needs. This co-operation is being strengthened through the new Regional Skills Fora to connect employers, enterprise development agencies and education and training providers.