Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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753. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if Skills Ireland is charged with responsibility and oversight for the hospitality and tourism skills development policy; the measures she will implement to address the skills shortage for the hospitality and tourism sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4425/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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Fáilte Ireland was established under the National Tourism Development Act 2003. One of its stated primary functions as specified in legislation is: “To encourage, promote and support the recruitment, training and education and development of persons for the purposes of employment within the Tourism Industry”. Fáilte Ireland is an agency under the aegis of the Department of Transport Tourism and Sport.

The Department of Education and Skills is the department of the Irish state with responsibility for education and training. This includes further education and training provision in Education and Training Boards as well as within several Institutes of Technology aimed at job opportunities in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

More generally, the hospitality industry itself also has a responsibility for the attraction, retention and development of its workforce including the provision of career progression opportunities.

The successful development of the sector, including the provision of a sufficient quantity and quality of skills, requires a collaborated approach by industry, education and training providers and other relevant stakeholders.