Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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105. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his views on implementing the recommendation of the report of the interdepartmental working group on fuller working lives to develop appropriate solutions tailored to the needs of older workers in order to support them to remain attached to the workforce for as long as possible and to reskill or upskill from occupations in which they may no longer be in a position to remain; if he has raised the matter with SOLAS and the education and training boards; the response he has received from them; if work has commenced on the development of these solutions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15720/17]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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Within the education sector, there are a range of actions in place as well as a number being developed to support the skill needs of older workers, to enable them to remain attached to the workforce for as long as possible and to meet the evolution of Ireland’s education system to one that fully supports lifelong learning as envisaged by the National Skills Strategy 2025 and the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019.

This year, I increased funding to Skillnets Limited by over 10% to enable it to deliver over 43,000 training places for those in employment, in a range of sectors and regions across over 63 training networks who will identify training needs and source provision to ensure it is aligned to the needs of workers and enterprise.

The National Skills Strategy 2025 sets out the vision that Ireland will be recognised by the quality of its workforce and has set a target to increase lifelong learning to 15% by 2025. 

In that context, my Department and SOLAS agreed last year, to develop a policy framework for the Further Education and Training (FET) sector to guide activity undertaken by the sector to support employee development in Ireland.  Work on the framework, which has involved consultation with a broad range of stakeholders, is nearing completion.  Under the Action Plan for Education 2017, it along with an implementation plan is scheduled for publication in Q2 2017

Goal 2 of the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019 which relates to active inclusion aims to support the active inclusion of individuals of all ages and abilities to participate in further education and training (FET) to enable every citizen to fully participate in society. 

Examples of actions currently taking place within the sector to support the active inclusion of all learners include:

- Introduction of new part-time programmes as well as timetabling study and ICT skills and academic literacy support across all level 3 and 4 provision;

- Increased flexibility in course provision to suit the lives of all learners, including weekend, evening, part-time provision as well as full-time;

- Enhanced pre-assessment policies and procedures to support the identification of best fit programmes and award levels for all;

- Development of learner engagement programmes, designed to meet the needs of persons most removed from the education/training environment, affording participants the opportunity to engage in active learning in an environment that is welcoming and supportive of their learning needs.

- Launched last year, the further education and training course hub (FETCH) which is available at provides prospective learners with information on almost 6,000 FET programmes being provided throughout the country.

My Department will continue to work with its agencies and other Government Departments to support older workers to remain attached to the workforce through the provision of high quality flexible education and training opportunities.