James Leonard
Question:52 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Education the priority, if any, she attaches to the involvement of industry in vocational training and education. [4436/97]
Written Answers - Construction Industry.
James Leonard
Question:63 Mr. Leonard asked the Minister for Education if her attention has been drawn to the scarcity of skilled workers for the construction industry; and the priority, if any, she attaches to the involvement of industry in vocational training and education. [4435/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 63 together.
FÁS is the statutory authority which has the responsibility, inter alia, to provide for training to meet the needs of companies — enterprises in the Irish construction industry.
As part of its remit it provides courses or secures the provision of courses for the training of persons employed or intending to be employed in skilled or semi-skilled occupations in the construction industry.
My Department is represented on the board of FÁS and on its statutory industrial training committee which deals with all aspects of training issues relevant to, inter alia, the construction industry.
As part of the new standards based apprenticeship system the recruitment of apprentices is a matter in the first instance for employers.
The White Paper "Charting our Education Future" outlines the Government's commitment to the importance of links between education and the economy.
In so far as links between business and second level schools are concerned, I welcome the contribution which the business and education links programme run by IBEC in association with AIB is making to the development of a co-ordinated and structured approach between business and second level schools. My Department will cooperate fully with IBEC in promoting the programme, which in its first year of operation established 60 links between IBEC members firms and second level schools.
The establishment of a comprehensive national qualifications framework is one of the important considerations which will underpin the future organisational development of vocational education and training, and adult and continuing education. Teastas, the Irish national certification authority, which has recently furnished its first report, will provide a structure for the formal involvement of business and the social partners and will ensure that the needs of business industry for skilled personnel are met, in particular through improved links between these sectors and the providers of education and training.
In relation to third level, the White Paper again underpins the importance of the putting in place, by institutions, of arrangements for co-operation with business, building on existing best practice. The relevant legislation for the technological sector recognises the role of the colleges in promoting economic and social development and allows for business representation of the governing bodies. The Universities Bill underlines a key object of the universities as that of supporting economic and social development and provides for business representation on the governing bodies.