Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

871. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to report on the work of officials within his Department, particularly the skills policy and enterprise engagement unit in the creation of a career guidance and information portal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27304/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

It has been a longstanding objective of my Department, based on the findings of the Indecon Review of Career Guidance (2019) (www.gov.ie/en/department-of-education/publications/indecon-review-of-career-guidance/), to strengthen the provision of information and guidance around career decision making.

The need to strengthen the provision of information and guidance was re-enforced by the 2023 OECD Review of Ireland's National Skills Strategy (www.oecd.org/en/publications/oecd-skills-strategy-ireland_d7b8b40b-en.html), which recommended that Ireland develops a skills system to better secure a balance between skills demand and supply. To achieve this balance, the Review recommended that Ireland improves information and guidance for individuals on learning and career pathways.

Since then extensive stakeholder consultation and a review of best international practice has identified that there is a market failure in relation to the provision of guidance aimed at those already in the workplace, and that information needs to be supported by guidance.

Working in partnership with Skillnet Ireland, my Department's workforce development agency, a two-pronged approach will be taken. This will involve human centric career coaching for those in jobs at risk of change, and the development of a framework for sector-specific portals, underpinned by shared standards for skills taxonomies and technological interoperability.

It is currently envisaged that a framework for sector specific portals will be developed, building on the Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) portal.