Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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65. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the measures she is taking to ensure there are sufficient number of skilled employees in the hospitality and tourism industry to secure ongoing expansion and employment in these sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22783/16]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Reflecting the importance of the Hospitality sector to the economy, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) completed a review of the future skill needs of the sector, entitled 'Assessment of Future Skills Requirements in the Hospitality Sector in Ireland, 2014-2020' which was published in November 2015.

A National Oversight and Advisory Grouphas been established and met on several occasions to drive the implementation of the reports’ recommendations. It comprises the Departments of Education and Skills, Social Protection and my Department, SOLAS, Higher Education Authority, Fáilte Ireland, Education and Training Boards, Irish Hotel Federation, Restaurant Association of Ireland, Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Association of Ireland.

Progress is being made on several of the recommendations of the report are well under way. These include the introduction of five new Apprenticeships run in collaboration with the Irish Hotel Federation and the Restaurant Association of Ireland. Several new Hospitality traineeships for jobseekers are being piloted by ETBs. The Irish Hotel Federation has launched a communication campaign to attract more people into the Industry. A Transition Year module on careers in the Hospitality and Tourism sector for second level students has been developed by the Irish Hospitality Institute. In the last month, around 200 Springboard + Hospitality training places for job seekers have been approved. At the end of 2015, Fáilte Ireland launched an initiative for job seekers in hospitality skills training. There are several Skillnets training programmes being run for persons seeking a career in Tourism and Hospitality.