Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 25 Mar 1998

Vol. 489 No. 1

Written Answers. - Training Courses.

Deirdre Clune

Question:

51 Ms Clune asked the Minister for Education and Science the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to increase the number of training courses for young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7509/98]

Michael D'Arcy

Question:

70 Mr. D'Arcy asked the Minister for Education and Science the discussions, if any, he has had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to increase the number of training courses for young people; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7510/98]

Minister for Education and Science (Mr. Martin)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 70 together.

The need for additional education and training provision for young people is being kept under continuing review by the Government. My Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment are co-operating and will continue to do so to ensure that appropriate responses are made to emerging needs.

In this context, the Deputies will be aware that arising from recommendations of the Forfás interim skills group on which both Departments were represented, I approved additional training courses at PLC level to develop multilingual teleservices-telemarketing skills with an uptake in the present academic year of over 400; I secured Government approval in July 1997 for £5 million capital investment to meet the emerging skills needs of the high-technology sector; and I established a joint education-industry task force to improve the supply of technicians. Almost 300 students commenced new courses in January 1998 having been recruited on a joint basis by the third level technological institutions and by industry.

On 6 November 1997 the Government announced details of the £250 million Scientific and Technological Education (Investment) Fund which will be used to develop technology education at all levels, ranging from primary schools to advanced research. There are three main objectives to the establishment of the fund: to renew and modernise the infrastructure of third level institutions, particularly in the technological sector; to develop new areas of activities where emerging skills needs have been identified; and to invest in promoting innovation to maintain and further our economic growth.

The Government also announced details of an important initiative in relation to interaction between Government, business and educationtraining. The purpose of the initiative is to promote dialogue between Government, business and the education institutions in relation to the education and training needs of the economy, to develop and facilitate the forecasting of skills requirements and to provide mechanisms for the speedy implementation of decisions. The three basic components of the new initiative are: a business-education partnership forum which is to be co-chaired by the Tánaiste and the Minister for Education and Science; an expert group on future skills which will advise on future skills needs and forecasting techniques; and a high level management implementation group to progress recommendations to the point where decisions can be taken and to monitor progress on the rate of implementation of decisions.

The Deputies will also be aware that an interdepartmental group comprised of representatives of my Department, the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and FÁS is responsible for overseeing provision in the education and FÁS sector for early school leavers. In this context, I would advise the Deputies that in the mid-term review of the Community Support Framework, 1994-99, new initiatives were agreed for implementation in 1998 and 1999 under which £2.96 million will be provided over 1998 and 1999 for a new initiative focussed on structured pilot projects in urban and rural disadvantaged areas with test models for the development of an integrated area based co-ordination of services to cater for young people aged eight to 15 at risk of early school leaving; £19.733 million will be provided for a minimum of 1,000 additional places for early school leavers in the youthreach and traveller training programmes; £0.987 million will be provided for the strengthening of counselling, guidance and psychological services for participants in these programmes; and £1.97 million will be provided for bridging and progression options for early school leavers through the FÁS training system. Some 725 places within the FÁS system will be redeveloped to progression options for youthreach and traveller trainees in 1998.