Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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As highlighted in the OECD Review there is a substantial provision of lifelong learning opportunities across all of the tertiary education system offered, for example, through such initiatives as Springboard+, the Human Capital Initiative, Skills to Advance and the work of Skillnet Ireland.

The OECD Review confirmed that although Ireland’s lifelong learning performance exceeds EU average levels, significant progress is required to reach our ambition of being a top EU performer.

My Department is, therefore, prioritising a number of key recommendations set out in the Review to enhance Ireland’s lifelong learning performance. These include:-

The reform of the National Skills Council, which I plan to announce shortly, to build a national partnership across all key stakeholders to drive a stronger national lifelong learning performance.

The implementation of a pilot SME incentivisation scheme to help SMEs with the cost of upskilling and reskilling of their workforce.

The development of a single portal for Career Guidance and Information to more effectively support workers and employers in navigating the multiple lifelong learning opportunities available.

Increased investment will be central to the delivery of our ambitions.

Minister Donohoe stated in his Budget 2024 Statement that he was keen to ensure that the National Training Fund is used in an effective and sustainable way in view of its vital role to ensure that workers can access lifelong learning.

An examination of the options to meet these objectives involving my Department and DPENDPDR is currently underway.