Seán Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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80. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the recent plea by the chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland to have more persons trained as chefs and skilled hospitality employees due to the crisis that has arisen regarding trained staff in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5763/17]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Education and Skills has lead responsibility for skills development policy generally across all sectors, including hospitality and tourism, and oversees the bulk of the required education and training delivered nationally through the mainstream higher and further education and training sectors. This work complements Fáilte Ireland's efforts to encourage, promote and support tourism as a leading indigenous component of the Irish economy.

In line with my Department's Tourism Action Plan 2016-2018,Fáilte Ireland is committed to working with the tourism industry and the wider education and training sector to implement the recommendations contained in the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) ​report on the hospitality sector. These recommendations are aimed at ensuring that there is an adequate supply of skilled staff in the tourism sector, including key roles such as chefs and other skilled positions. 

Addressing projected skills demand requires a combination of measures, including providing appropriate direct enterprise support, entry-level training, advanced/professional training; increasing the attractiveness of employment opportunities; and improving staff retention in certain occupations. Government Departments, agencies, education and training providers, industry bodies and employers each have a role to play. In this regard, Fáilte Ireland participates in the Hospitality Skills Oversight Group, which oversees skills development and promotion in the sector, including monitoring the implementation of the EGFSN recommendations, and involves all relevant stakeholders - including the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI). Fáilte Ireland is also an active participant, alongside the RAI and other key industry bodies, on the consortium collaborating on the development of the culinary apprenticeship.

I believe that this collaborative approach is the most effective way to tackle the current challenges and to support the sustainable development of the Irish tourism industry, including addressing challenges concerning the supply of skilled chefs.