James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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283. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if the hospitality skills oversight group examines the need to sustain hotels in rural towns and their associated economic benefits; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22052/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Hospitality Skills Oversight Group (HSOG) was set up on foot of a recommendation contained in the report on the Future Skills Needs of the Hospitality Industry, which was published in November 2015 by the national Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGSFN), to which my Department provides the Secretariat.

The Group provides a forum for practical action and collaboration to address the skills needs of the sector, including hotels in regional and rural areas. The Group was formed in March 2016 and Membership of the Group includes the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI), the Irish Hotels Federation, the Irish Hospitality Institute, Licensed Vintners Association, Vintners Federation of Ireland, Fáilte Ireland, Higher Education Authority, Skillnets, SOLAS, Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI),Technological Higher Education Association(THEA), Quality and Qualifications Ireland, Regional Skills Dublin and the Departments of  Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Education and Skills and Employment and Social Protection. 

The Group is aware that the hospitality sector is very diverse with many different kinds of employers and occupations. As a result, different priorities and needs have emerged within the industry.  While Fáilte Ireland has a defined role for the development of tourism enterprises, many of the constituent hospitality businesses fall outside of the tourism sector. Areas such as contract catering, institutional catering, artisan food production, delicatessens etc are all sources of employment for trained hospitality staff. 

The Group focused on the following priority areas between March 2016 and March 2018:

-Promoting careers in the hospitality industry

The hospitality sector has suffered from poor career perception in the past.  Since the establishment of the Oversight Group in 2016, the IHF, IHI in partnership with FI came together and launched a National Tourism Careers Programme.  The programme is being run in close collaboration with tourism and hospitality businesses and is designed to enable second-level students aged 15-18 to explore the full range of exciting career paths and educational and training options available all over the country.  The Irish Hotels Federation’s “Get a Life in Tourism” is an example of a positive response to the challenges of attracting new entrants to the industry.  The Careers Roadshow undertaken by the IHF, IHI and Tralee demonstrates how effective collaboration can yield positive outcomes.  Tourism Insight is another positive development resulting from collaboration between IHI, Fáilte Ireland, IHF, Tralee and regional skills fora.It is an interactive online programme for students and teachers featuring tutorials and videos, which can be delivered as part of class in school or for students to complete in their own time at home. The Transition Year programme was launched in September 2016.

- Audits of hospitality-related courses and facilities in further and higher education

The Audit of Hospitality Courses in Further and Higher Education Report was published in November 2017. This report was commissioned by SOLAS and the HEA on behalf of the Hospitality Skills Oversight Group. It provides a high level of analysis of the data available that shows the alignment of skills provision against identified gaps in the hospitality sector. The HSOG is considering a proposal to carry out a pilot exercise into facilities and capabilities in specific geographical areas.  The pilot project would look at a designated geographical area where a FE and HE institution exist and audit the equipment, space and downtime available.

-  Development of apprenticeship and traineeship programmes

The Oversight Group sees apprenticeships as an alternative model of learning and an opportunity for certain cohorts of learners to start on the pathway of a career in a variety of sectors, including hospitality. The Commis Chef Apprenticeship Programme was launched in January 2018 and will take place in the ETBs - led by Kerry ETB.  The apprenticeship will involve two days in training and 3 days in work. This will lead to a Level 6 award and will take two years to complete.

In 2015 a new Career Traineeship initiative was begun by SOLAS in collaboration with ETBs and enterprise to develop a more effective model of work-based learning. As of late 2017, eight hospitality programmes have been completed in 4 ETBs (Laois & Offaly ETB, Limerick & Clare ETB, Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim ETB and Cavan& Monaghan ETB). One programme is currently running in Louth & Meath ETB.  5 programmes are currently planned for Limerick& Clare ETB, Kildare & Wicklow ETB, Kilkenny & Carlow ETB, Donegal ETB & Kerry ETB.

There is considerable scope within the Career Traineeships to provide a range of craft level skills training in supported employments. This model compares well against the much commented upon former CERT training model. The Group notes that early indicators are that the participating enterprises are very satisfied with the traineeship approach.

- Launch of Skillnets for the hospitality industry

Skillnet Ireland is a national body with responsibility for the promotion of enterprise-led training. It is funded through the National Training Fund by the Department of Education and Skills. The RAI-promoted Restaurant and Hospitality Skillnet was formally launched by Minister Bruton in March 2017 to help drive employment growth, talent attraction and retention in the hospitality sector, with a particular focus on career progression for those at lower skilled levels.

Skillnet Ireland has a rolling Expression of Interest process open to new applicants, and in April 2017 a second hospitality-sector network was approved, the Tourism & Food Skillnet. Promoted by Ballyhoura Development CLG, this network was developed to address the skills needs of tourism and food businesses in a rural catchment area in the south-west region. The training plan in year one comprises a mix of courses on digital marketing, business skills and sector -specific technical skills. As Skillnet Ireland continues to seek to develop new networks to expand its reach, the Expression of Interest process remains open to interested parties including the hospitality sector.

-Connecting people with jobs through initiatives of the Department of Social Protection

As part of its role in providing supports and information to unemployed people, the Department of Employment and Social Protection (DEASP) helps to match jobseekers with employers and vacancies, including in the hospitality sector. The jobsireland.ie website is the national job matching service run by the DEASP.  Vacancies advertised on the Jobs Ireland website are also promoted through the EURES service to maximise awareness of the opportunities across Europe.  A proposal regarding a recruitment campaign in Portugal was submitted for consideration by RAI and an invitation extended to participate in the European Online Job Fairs.  Ongoing support for recruitment has been offered and availed of by employers in the hospitality sector.