Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I want to thank the Deputy for raising this.

The main responsibility of my Department in this respect, I believe, is in ensuring the participation of older age cohorts in education.

This can be to help their engagement in employment, but can also be to ensure their full participation in society.

People in Ireland are living longer and healthier lives and it is important they can continue to access education at all stages of their lives.

The OECD Skills Strategy Review published in May 2023, highlighted the need for an increased focus on short and flexible skilling options for individuals entering or transitioning in the workforce; and clearer navigability of those options.

The OECD review also identifies older people as being part of a vulnerable cohort in terms of their lifelong learning participation and provides a detailed and comprehensive set of actions that are relevant to responding to upskilling and reskilling needs for vulnerable groups.

There are a number of initiatives we are undertaking across third level education. A number of our universities offer specific modules for older people.

For example, Dublin City university offer an Age-Friendly University Programme that specifically welcomes older people Over 2,000 older people visit DCU to take part in wellness, cultural, social, research and educational opportunities that promote intergenerational engagement, helps to challenge stereotypes and combat ageism.

We understand 300,000 people in the workforce lack the equivalent of a Leaving Cert, and the vast majority are in the over 50 age group.

Solas run specific programmes for this cohort. Skills to Advance offers free upskilling support to these people, in key areas like digital skills, remote working, healthcare and smart driving.

In addition to this, the latest figures available to me show 67,363 people aged over 55 engaged in further education in 2022. I believe this proves the appetite and desire to continue with education is evident but we must do more to target those out-of-reach groups.

As part of the Adult Literacy Collaboration Fund announced last year, there is specific programmes targeted at older people also.

This includes learning literacy skills through cooking. We are also examining a specific campaign targeting older learners with unmet digital literacy needs.