Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to develop a new pact with businesses across the country to address skills shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49823/21]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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In line with the commitments contained in the National Economic Plan, my Department is currently engaged in a review of key elements of skills policy landscape in Ireland. This work includes examination of how best to maximise the effectiveness of the skills architecture in place, including the National Skills Council and Regional Skills Fora as well as a review of the broader policy framework for skills in light of the very dynamic environment in which it must deliver on priority economic and employment objectives for Government.

An important aspect of the review is the development of a Pact for Skills. It is intended that the Pact for Skills would provide an overarching framework, which could guide approaches to skills policies and strategies in Ireland and would be drawn on to shape and inform how Government, business, and other stakeholders work, in partnership, to deliver skills and develop human capital, central drivers of economic recovery and societal wellbeing.

The further education and training and higher education systems in Ireland have a strong track record of flexibility and responsiveness in addressing priority skills needs. Ireland has an advanced system of skills provision, across further and higher education, lifelong learning and human capital development, which is agile and responsive to changes in the world of work now being driven by accelerated technological change. Central to this is the partnership approach between the Further and Higher Education system and Government, Industry, the National Skills Council (NSC), the National Training Fund Advisory Group, the Regional Skills Fora and the Apprenticeship Council.