Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

278. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his Department is working alongside multinationals and universities to enable job growth for graduating students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22113/26]

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

This week I am conducting several meetings directly with industry to address such matters. On Wednesday I am convening an enterprise focussed Skills Roundtable and on Thursday I am meeting with the National Skills Council. Through both events, I will hear directly from representatives of key sectors regarding their identified skills needs.

I am keenly aware of the need to ensure alignment of the education and skills eco-system with labour-market needs, and the need to enable people to access the skills and opportunities required for sustainable employment.

Enterprise engagement is a central feature of this and involves identifying specific skills needs, co-designing programmes and courses, and planning and foresight to develop future skills capacity.

The National Skills Council is a key part of this work. The Council enables strategic engagement with industry and social partners so that a broader range of stakeholders can inform policy priorities.

The Regional Skills Fora network is another important structure. It is a conduit for industry to engage directly with education and training providers. This partnership approach has led to the creation of specific provision in direct response to industry needs, thereby providing for sustained employment growth.

I can inform the Deputy that we are also improving our planning and foresight capabilities through a National Skills Observatory. Being established this year, the Observatory will serve a single point of centralised skills and labour market data to inform policy and provision.

Finally, my officials work closely with SOLAS, the Higher Education Authority, Skillnet Ireland, Enterprise Ireland and the IDA to inform cross-government policy and provision for employment growth.