Ruairi Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

794. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans in relation to third-level apprenticeships, lifelong learning and dealing with the growing demand for skilled workers in new industries such as environmental and digital. [41448/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The response to COVID-19 has accelerated digital transformation, changing the nature and capabilities required for occupations. Upskilling and reskilling are a key Government priority to foster an inclusive recovery and to support the digital and green transitions, key commitments in the Programme for Government.

Lifelong learning lies at the heart of Ireland’s and the EU’s education and training policy and is acknowledged as being vital for sustainable economic growth, the restoration of employment, and fostering social cohesion.  This recognition of the importance of lifelong learning is reflected in the targets set both nationally and at EU level for lifelong learning participation. Ireland’s National Skills Strategy set a lifelong learning target of 10% to be reached by the year 2020 and 15% by 2025.  In quarter 4 2020, approximately 302,300 adults aged 25-64 years had engaged in lifelong learning, representing a lifelong learning participation rate of 11.6%, this was a reduction on prior year’s attainment caused by COVID-19 related measures.   

Further Education and Training (FET) is primarily delivered or contracted by the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs), under the funding and strategic direction of SOLAS. FET offers a diverse range of programmes and supports designed to meet the needs of individuals at different stages of the learning pathway. Courses focused on foundation or transversal skills development, including literacy, numeracy and digital skills, build the core capabilities that allow participants to move on to more advanced learning opportunities with the aim of enabling every citizen to participate fully in society across their lifetime.

The new FET Strategy 2020-2024 recognises the key role that FET must play in helping to address the digital divide and provide learners with the core ICT skills to address digital literacy and commits to enhancing technology within FET to ensure that better use is made of digital technology for teaching and learning. There are a range of programmes available within FET for all persons who wish to develop their digital literacy. These programmes are integrated into adult literacy and numeracy provision and are designed to meet the specific digital literacy needs of learners. As a result, they are generally organised on a one-to-one or small group basis.

A €225m investment package was announced as part of the Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan, which includes a significant skills package for upskilling and reskilling aimed at equipping workers whose jobs are unlikely to return, including a focus on digital skills transition and a new Green Skills Action programme at further education level.  A research and innovation National Grand Challenges Programme has also been launched which will focus on the need for a transition to a climate neutral and clean economy as well as the challenges of digital transition.

The Action Plan for Apprenticeship 2021-2025 launched on 19th April last sets out new ways of structuring, funding, and promoting apprenticeships to make apprenticeship accessible to employers and learners. The actions set out in the plan seek to deliver on a target of 10,000 apprenticeship registrations per annum by 2025.

Government is committed under the Action Plan for Apprenticeship to working with employers to promote, enable and support the recruitment of apprentices.  Measures to support employer engagement in apprenticeship across all sectors of the economy, particularly within the SME sector, will be integral to the delivery of the target of 10,000 new apprentice registrations per annum by 2025.  These measures encompass both financial and non-financial and will include an annual grant for employers not benefiting from the existing mechanism of State-funded craft apprentice training allowances for off-the-job training. This employer grant will be administered by the new National Apprenticeship Office (NAO) and the level of grant will be announced by year end.

Green skills are the heart of the Government’s post-Covid recovery and regeneration plans. Near Zero Energy Building (NZEB) and retrofit programmes are currently provided in Waterford Wexford ETB, Laois Offaly ETB and Mount Lucas National Construction Training Centre with work ongoing to establish a further three centres of excellence in Cork, Limerick Clare and Mayo Sligo Leitrim ETBs.

At higher education level, in addition to core full time and part time programmes, funding is also provided under Springboard and the Human Capital Initiative for programmes which support the development of green skills, including professionals in areas such as Building Analysis and Climate Adaptation; Sustainable Building Technology and Retrofit, Conservation and Sustainability.   

Additional demand for skills to support the transformation to Low Carbon Economy are being identified through the ongoing EGFSN study ‘Skills for the Low Carbon Economy’ which is due to be finalised in the coming period.