Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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614. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress made to include reference in all new statements of strategy to all sustainable development goal targets for which his Department has lead responsibility as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25750/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is a significant and ambitious policy agenda that concerns all Government Departments.  The first SDGs National Implementation Plan (2018-2020), published in 2018, set out Ireland’s strategy to achieve the SDGs both domestically and internationally. 19 Actions were included in the first National Implementation Plan.

I can advise the Deputy that the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is fully committed to contributing to the national effort to implement the United Nations’ 17 SDGs. The Department’s Statement of Strategy was published in March 2021, with a mission to:

“Develop Ireland’s further and higher education and research systems to support people in reaching their full potential and to create value, prosperity, resilience and a cohesive, sustainable and vibrant society”.

Over the lifetime of the new Statement of Strategy, the Department will continue to contribute to the achievement of the SDGs and in particular to SDG 4 – Quality Education “to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all”.

Strategic Goal 3 of our Statement of Strategy “Inclusion-Supporting learning for all” is clearly aligned with this objective and contributes in particular to SDG Targets 4.3, 4.5 and 4.6. It aims to:

“Provide supports and opportunities for learning to all, recognising the needs of vulnerable learners and the most marginalised, and assist people in access to and progression through higher and further education and training, so as to grow prosperity across communities and build social cohesion”.

Under this Strategic Goal, specific commitments that have been made include to:

- Undertake a strategic review of our policy framework with a view to better facilitate access, progression and success for a wider and more diverse learner population at all levels (Supports SDG Target 4.3);

- Begin scoping work on the next National Access Plan (Supports Target 4.3)

- Support an Inter-Departmental Group chaired by Minister Harris to oversee the development and publication of a new 10–year Strategy to transform Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Skill Levels in Ireland (Supports SDG Target 4.6)

Strategic Goal 1: Develop Talent and Skill directly tackles SDG Targets 4.4 and 4.7, with regard to relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship; and knowledge and skills to promote and advance sustainable development.

It aims to:

“Collaborate with educational institutions, employers and others to identify the talents and skills required, and provide education and training, growing potential and helping people engage in and contribute to our economy and society”.

Under this Strategic Goal, specific commitments that my Department has made include to:

- Provide strategic and evidence-based input to the preparation of the new National Economic Plan, to ensure that that the Plan appropriately reflects the Department’s priorities, including as regards the skills agenda and the need for upskilling and reskilling in the context of significant labour market changes and the green and digital transitions (Supports SDG Targets 4.4 and SDG Target 13.3).

- Work with the Department of Social Protection through the inter-Departmental High Level Group, to implement the education and training elements of a new Pathways to Work Strategy (Supports SDG Target 4.4).

- Develop and Publish the Action Plan on Apprenticeships 2021-2025 - I’m pleased to report that this has already been published and launched on 19^thApril, 2021 (Supports SDG Target 4.4).

- In addition, on Earth Day, 22^ndApril, I launched a public consultation together with Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, on the development of a joint National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) to 2030. ESD to 2030 will be aligned to UNESCO’s Framework for ESD for 2030 and will directly contribute to the achievement of SDG Target 4.7, as well as being an enabler for the achievement for all other SDGs (Supports SDG Target 4.7).

My Department is also committed, as a stakeholder department, to harnessing the research, knowledge and innovation potential of our higher education and research system to tackle key societal challenges reflected in the SDG Goals for issues such as Climate Change (SDG Goal 13).

Strategic Goal 2: Innovation, Sub-Goal 4 is to:

-“Lead our sectoral contribution to Ireland’s Climate Action Plan and other national challenges, including by harnessing Ireland’s research and scientific expertise to engage and inform the public and provide evidence-based input to policy development and evaluation”.

My Department is currently working on the development of the next Research and Innovation Strategy and actions includes will support the achievement of SDG Goal 8, Target 8.2 focused on “Achieving higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors”.

My Department and I will continue to advance this important agenda through these programmes of work.

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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615. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the specific sustainable development goal targets his Department is responsible for implementing; the progress made in implementing those targets since 26 April 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25768/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has responsibilties for a number of the goals under Sustainable Development National Implementation Plan. The Deputy may be interested in the Policy Map, which notes the responsibilities of each Department and which is available at the link - .

I have also included below details of the goals my Department is responsible for, and the progress made in implementing these goals.

I. Under the Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan, a number of Education strategies and plans have been identified as key to implementing SDG 4 – Quality Education which spans ensuring:-

A. equal access for all women and men to affordable and quality technical, vocational and tertiary education, including university (4.3)

B. increasing youth and adults who have skills for employment and entrepreneurship (4.4)

C. gender disparities are eliminated and equal access to all levels of education (4.5)

D. all youth and substantial proportion of adults achieve literacy and numeracy (4.6)

E. all learners acquire skills, knowledge to promote sustainable development (4.7)

II.

A.

1. National Plan for Equity of Access to Higher Education 2015-2021 (SDG 4.3, 4.5)

B.

1. A Public Consultation for the development of a new National Access Plan opened on 16th April 2021 and is open until Friday 21 May 2021.

2. National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy 2016-2020 (SDG 4.5)

C.

1. The National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) which is under the remit of the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth provides the framework and strategic direction for interventions across Government Departments to support the additional needs of the Traveller and Roma communities in Ireland.

D.

1.

2. Further Education and Training Strategy 2020-2024 (SDG 4.3, 4.4, 4.6)

E.

1. The FET Strategy implementation plan is currently in development by SOLAS. Wider consultation will take place with DFHERIS and other key stakeholders in Q3, 2021 to establish working groups and associated timelines for work streams and priorities.

2. National Skills Strategy 2025 (SDG 4.4, 4.5)

a) The National Skills Strategy 2016-2025 (NSS) was published in 2016 and makes recommendations in the skills arena for the period to 2025.

(1) The Strategy sets out a wide range of actions under six key objectives aimed at improving the development, supply and use of skills over the next decade. The objectives are:

(a) 1. Education and training providers will place a stronger focus on providing skills development opportunities that are relevant to the needs of learners, society and the economy.

(b) 2. Employers will participate actively in the development of skills and make effective use of skills in their organisations to improve productivity and competitiveness.

(c) 3. The quality of teaching and learning at all stages of education will be continually enhanced and evaluated.

(d) 4. People across Ireland will engage more in lifelong learning.

(e) 5. There will be a specific focus on active inclusion to support participation in education and training and the labour market.

(f) 6. We will support an increase in the supply of skills to the labour market.

(2)

(a) Since the publication of the NSS in 2016, the changes that were anticipated for the future world of work have accelerated, including those around Industry 4.0, automation and digitisation. The new technologies and new skills associated with these trends bring with them requirements in relation to upskilling and reskilling for those in employment and those seeking employment, as well as requirements in relation to the content of tertiary education. It is timely to review and revitalise the skills strategy, architecture and overarching approach for Ireland in order to ensure that our skills framework continues to be fit for purpose and to work on the basis of partnership with industry in driving forward the skills agenda and responding to the challenges that face us as our economy reopens and recovers.

(3)

(a)

(4)

(a)

(5)10 year Adult Literacy, Numeracy and Digital Literacy Strategy (SDG 4.6)

b)

(1)SOLAS has been tasked with developing a 10 year adult literacy, numeracy and digital literacy strategy. An interdepartmental stakeholder group, chaired by the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, is overseeing the development of the strategy. Public consultation on the strategy took place between Nov-Dec 2020, and the strategy is due to be finalised in Q2 2021.

c)

(1)

(2)National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (SDG 4.7)

d)

(1)The National Strategy on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) 2014-2020 has now expired but significant progress was made over the period spanning early childhood education to higher education and beyond, and a report is being compiled in this respect. Achievements included:-

(a) the introduction of additional undergraduate and postgraduate programmes relevant to sustainable development;

(b) the integration of sustainable development criteria in initial teacher education programmes;

(c) increased participation in the Green Campus programme among higher education institutions;

(d) increased pipeline of research and researchers with expertise on the SDGs and Sustainability achieved, through research funding calls with a specific focus on these areas.

(2)

(a) Building on the success of the existing strategy, the Department, together with the Department of Education will jointly develop a new strategy for ESD to 2030, aligned to the UNESCO Framework for ESD for 2030 and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Target 4.7. ESD to 2030 will be informed by a process of stakeholder engagement and public consultation and will aim to extend ESD to the informal and non-formal education sectors, raise awareness, increase youth participation and links with communities. Development will be overseen by the ESD Advisory Group. The public consultation was launched on Earth Day (22ndApril 2021) and will remain open until the end of June 2021. Both Departments will continue to engage with key stakeholders including the further and higher education and schools communities into the early autumn with a view to publishing a new strategy for ESD to 2030 in early 2022.

(3)

(a) As well as being a target in itself, ESD is also considered a key enabler for achieving all 17 SDGs.

(4)Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science - Statement of Strategy 2021-2023

I.The SDG Implementation Plan calls for a reference in Statements of Strategy where Departments have lead responsibility to implement SDG goals. The Department’s new Statement of Strategy 2021-2023 includes a clear commitment to sustainability and embeds goals and actions throughout that are aligned with the SDG Goals and Targets, where the Department is named as a lead of stakeholder department.

II.Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors (SDG 8.2)

I.

I.My Department’s Statement of Strategy is a clear articulation of the Government’s commitment to support and strengthen the national research and innovation ecosystem and position Ireland as a leading knowledge-driven economy. Innovation 2020, Ireland’s national strategy for research and development, science and technology has come to a conclusion but its vision for Ireland to become a Global Innovation Leader driving a strong sustainable economy and a better society continues to be valid today.

I.A new national research and innovation strategy is currently under development at DFHERIS. A number of areas of key importance to the next strategy have already emerged including key thematic challenges such as climate change, digitalisation and public health and the role that research and innovation plays in not only finding solutions to these issues but also identifying opportunities across these areas. Working with departments and agencies across Government, the new strategy will strengthen the capability and capacity of our research and innovation system to deliver excellence and impact and make a real difference to the lives of all our citizens, whether it be through breakthrough health discoveries, addressing climate challenges or creating new, high quality jobs for the knowledge economy.

I.The Programme for Government commits to creating better opportunities through education and research and ensuring that Ireland is a global leader in research and innovation across the arts, humanities, social sciences and STEM. Research and innovation will be fundamental to addressing our economic and social challenges such as climate change, digitalisation and public health and as such the new strategy will be aligned with the SDGs.

II.Climate Action (SDG 13)

Climate Action features prominently in the Department’s new Statement of Strategy 2021-2023. The Department is also contributing actively to the preparation of the new Climate Action Plan. The research and innovation sectors will play an important role, including advancing innovative and technological solutions that will in turn be critical to enable sectors across the economy to meet the ambitious targets set for 2030 and 2050. There will also be a key role for the tertiary education sector to ensure reskilling and upskilling for climate action, including new skills required in the green transition such as retrofitting.

In terms of progress made since 2018, the Human Capital Initiative has provided significant funding for courses that include a focus on the environment, climate change and sustainability. Across HCI Pillars 1 and 2, sixteen courses with a specific focus on environment/energy/sustainability/circular economy were approved, providing almost 1000 course places for learners.

HCI Pillar 3, included a specific focus on climate action, with a requirement that funded programmes include consideration of how they can positively assist the diverse and wide-ranging impacts that Climate Change will have on Ireland’s environment, society, economic and natural resources. A number of HCI projects with notable components addressing climate action, environment and sustainability were awarded funding under this call and will have wide-reaching impacts, given the multi-partner collaborative approach adopted in many instances.

A number of Springboard courses in 2020 and additional places provided on Postgraduate and Modular courses provided as part of the July Stimulus package in 2020, also included a focus on environment/sustainability.

A new round of Springboard+ courses is due to be launched in the coming weeks, and the call for proposals included sustainability and the low carbon economy as an area of focus for courses under the call.

There are 40 higher education institutions registered on the Green Campus Programme, managed by An Taisce, to Q4 2020. 15 of these campuses have been awarded the Green Flag, with 8 new registrations in 2020.

I and my Department are committed to making progress on the SDGs and will continue in our programmes of work as set out above in order to advance this important agenda.