Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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148. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he has discussed increasing the number of places for courses in further and higher education institutions related to the hospitality sector to meet the employment needs of the sector. [50354/21]

Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the steps he is taking to increase the number of places for courses related to the hospitality sector to meet the employment needs of the sector. [50351/21]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 151 together.

The Further and Higher Education sectors provide a broad range of courses and programmes in Hospitality and Tourism nationwide. My Department is represented on the Fáilte Ireland Career’s Oversight Group and there is ongoing engagement between my officials and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to ensure that education and training provision is meeting the skills needs of the tourism and hospitality sectors.

Specifically, within the higher education sector, there are 19 Springboard+ courses available in the Hospitality sector (Hospitality, Tourism, Food and Beverage) and 7 modular courses, giving a total of 26 courses available in the Hospitality sector providing for 543 places for academic year 2021/2022.

In the Further Education and Training (FET) sector, over 60 relevant courses and programmes are available including full-time and part-time options including evenings and weekends. FET programmes are delivered in a wide variety of settings including Post-Leaving Certificate and Further Education Colleges, Training Centres and adult education centres. FET is also provided through community and voluntary groups, commercial training providers and in workplaces.

There are currently 3 apprenticeships in the hospitality sector; Commis Chef (level 6), Chef de Partie (level 7) and Sous Chef (level 8). A further Executive Chef programme (level 9) and a Bar Manger Apprenticeship (level 7) are in development.

A new initiative under Skills to Advance was launched earlier this year in response to a request from the Irish Hotels Federation to boost the retention and career progression of key talent in the hospitality and tourism sector. Two dedicated programmes have been developed by SOLAS and the Education and Training Boards in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation, Fáilte Ireland and the Regional Skills Fora. Providing highly subsidised training to upskill team leads and supervisory management staff, these programmes will maximise the ability to deal with the new business environment, its challenges and opportunities.