John Browne
Question:22 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11290/98]
Written Answers. - Tourism Training.
P. J. Sheehan
Question:25 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11292/98]
Liam Burke
Question:32 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11291/98]
Michael Creed
Question:39 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11289/98]
Paul Connaughton
Question:41 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation the implications, if any, for the tourism industry in view of the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11288/98]
Bernard Allen
Question:43 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation if he will set out the implications for the tourism industry due to the failure of CERT to fill between 500 and 600 training places. [11282/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 25, 32, 39, 41 and 43 together.
For the 1997-8 academic year, CERT, the State tourism training agency, recruited 3,200 new entrants for full-time and elementary skills programmes, leaving 144 places for first year recruits in the institutes of technology spread over nine colleges and seven craft schools unfilled. Meanwhile, because of the lengthening of the elementary skills programme for the unemployed, from 13 to 16 weeks, to meet national certification requirements, there was a reduction of 400 in the number of places available in the current academic year, on this programme.
The rate of expansion in the tourism industry has been unprecedented in recent years. Last year alone, a total of 51 new hotels were opened with a further 34 due to open this year. Young people are increasingly entering the industry directly, such is the demand for employees. Indeed in this respect, some students have left their studies in favour of employment in the industry.
While there is still evidence of staff and skills shortages in certain areas of the industry, these shortages are in direct response to the levels of growth experienced by the industry. I understand that CERT is not aware of any tourism establishment which has been unable to operate due to lack of personnel. My Department is keenly aware of the ongoing need for qualified staff. CERT, through support provided under the Operational Programme for Tourism, 1994-99 have drawn up a comprehensive training programme to address these skill and staff shortages in the industry. In excess of £12 million per annum is spent by CERT in training people for the industry, representing a major commitment by Government and the EU in recent years.
Mainly through a number of media campaigns, both in print and national and local radio and vacancy information on Aertel, CERT have succeeded in maintaining recruitment levels close to previous years in a very competitive environment. CERT also run workshops for career guidance counsellors, give career talks and hold exhibitions in schools throughout the country. The CERT National Recruitment Committee, which is representative of industry bodies, meets regularly to assist in the development of local promotional initiatives to attract new recruits to the industry.
Today's school leavers, of course, have high expectations, and more and more are opting for hospitality and tourism management programmes and, the availability of such management college places is promoting this aspiration, complementing and supplementing CERT's training and development strategy.