Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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129. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department carried out a sectorial analysis of skills shortages in the economy for the next five, ten, 15 and 20 year period; and the enterprise strategies in place to adapt policy to address these skills shortages. [19544/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides research and secretariat support to the Expert Group for Future Skills Needs (EGFSN). The EGFSN plays a key role in identifying current and future skills needs of enterprises and advising the government on these needs. The EGFSN carries out research, analysis and horizon scanning in relation to emerging skills requirements at both thematic and sectorial levels. The reports draw on statistical input and analysis from the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit in Solas and consultation with education and enterprise experts as part of their studies.

Over the last 20 years, the EGFSN has undertaken analysis and forecasting of skills availability in a range of sectors. In the last number of years these studies have included sectors as diverse as the Marine/Maritime economy; freight, transport, logistics and distribution; biopharma and the hospitality sectors. These reports include a horizon scanning exercise and generate forecasts for skills demand in the given sectors. The timeline of these reports is typically over a 5 year period to ensure accuracy in forecasting demands. The EGFSN has the opportunity to commence a follow up study if it is required.

Current government and enterprise strategies also have a strong skills focus and in many cases, reflect the findings and recommendations of EGFSN reports. My Department works in collaboration with the Department of Education and Skills to ensure that the education system is producing the right talent pool to ensure the success of enterprise in Ireland. The National Skills Strategy reflects this goal as it aims to ensure the quality of our workforce. My Department's enterprise strategies, such as the Action Plan for Jobs and Enterprise 2025 Renewed, also have dedicated focus aimed at addressing the skills needs of enterprise. Actions in these strategies include but not limited to, the roll-out of the Skills for Growth Programme, developing training initiatives to develop in-company capability and the aim to address the need for new skills post-Brexit in the areas of customs, logistics and risk management.

Through the work of the EGFSN, ongoing engagement with the Department of Education and Skills, and monitoring and implementation our robust enterprise policies my Department will continue to monitor skills demands and address any potential skills needs as appropriate.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if her Department carried out a labour shortage analysis in the economy; and the policies in place to address such shortages including published strategies. [19545/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, the Secretariat to which is based in my Department, is an independent, non-statutory body. The Group has a broad sectorial membership including representatives from the business community, education and training providers, trade unions, and a small number of Government Departments and agencies. The Group’s mandate is to carry out research, analysis and horizon scanning in relation to emerging skills requirements at thematic and sectorial levels. Its follow up work involves engagement with the Department of Education and Skills, Higher Education Authority, SOLAS and other relevant bodies to produce an agreed action plan to address the skills needs identified.

Recently completed and ongoing work being undertaken by the EGFSN includes analyses of skills needs or skills implications relevant to the food and drink sector, design, high level ICT, trade related skillsets in the context of Brexit, the early childcare sector, and digitalisation.

As part of the new National Skills Architecture, the EGFSN presents its findings to the National Skills Council, chaired by the Minister for Education and Skills, which, together with additional skills and labour market intelligence provided by the Regional Skills Fora, Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) in SOLAS, and information on Employment Permit trends, provides a mechanism for mediating demands on resources in a manner that facilitates the prioritisation of investment in identified skills needs, and enhancing the responses by education and training providers to provision and delivery of those needs.

The research of the EGFSN and the SLMRU also informs my Department’s Economic Migration Policy Unit. This Unit has the responsibility for the employment permits system which is managed by the operation of the Highly Skilled Eligible Occupations List and the Ineligible Categories List. The employment permits regime is designed to facilitate the entry of appropriately skilled non-EEA migrants to fill skills shortages. The objective is balanced by the need to ensure that there are no suitably qualified Irish/EEA nationals available to undertake the work and the shortage is a genuine one. The rationale underpinning the inclusion or omission from the occupation lists is informed by EGFSN, the SLMRU and is augmented by a consultation process that includes calls for submissions. This process is regularly reviewed to ensure that it is operating efficiently.

The analysis of the Expert Group on Future Skills has been reflected in the overarching strategies for the education and training system published in recent years. These include Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025, and the Action Plan for Education 2016-2019, including its associated annual implementation plans, both of which have been developed by the Department of Education and Skills.

This analysis has also informed the development of my own Department’s framework policy for enterprise policy, Enterprise 2025- Ireland’s National Enterprise Policy 2015-2025, its recent refresh, Enterprise 2025 Renewed, and the instrument for the annual implementation of the objectives set out in Enterprise 2025, the Action Plan for Jobs, which seeks to create the optimum conditions for job creation within the economy, including through ready availability of relevant skills and talent.