Vol. 516 No. 5
95 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the progress, if any, on the recommendations of the expert group on future skills needs; when the second report of the group will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7752/00]
The Second Report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs will be published before the end of next month. Substantial pro gress has been made in the implementation of the recommendations of the first report of the expert group which addressed the skills needs of the electronics and software sectors of the economy. Key aspects of progress include an additional investment of £75 million for the provision of 5,400 information technology places at third level; an additional £6 million allocation towards provision of 1,500 places on ICT post-graduate conversion courses; and an extra £3.2 million allocation to FÁS for an additional 730 places in information technology skills. I am providing the Deputy with a detailed progress report on the recommendations in the first report of the expert group which has recently been compiled by Forfás.
Is consideration being given to the less conventional methods of making a contribution towards tackling the skills shortage? I am talking about young people who drop out of school early, who may not have general academic qualifications or aptitudes but who have very pertinent aptitudes in terms of technology and the information society. Is the Minister familiar, for example, with the programme called CITI, Clondalkin Information Technology Initiative, which was the brainchild of one businessman? On the basis of interviews for aptitude for computer programming, a small number of young people who had not sat the leaving certificate were selected and, within 11 months, were turned out as competent computer programmers and employed in industry. Will the skills committee look at that kind of initiative? My fear is that it is regarded as subversive of the system and that there is no room for that kind of unconventional approach to making a contribution towards the skills needs.
Deputy Rabbitte makes a very valid point. We have been too traditional in the way we have looked at supplying skills needs. The Deputy is right in saying that many people drop out of school. He made the point at the committee yesterday that there is not always a correlation between IQ and rate of pay. There are many people who, for one reason or other, perhaps to do with their level of maturity or their family circumstances, did not get a chance to complete formal education and who, many years later, have had great success. To a large extent it is environmental factors that make that possible.
The second report deals with other ways of addressing some of the skills needs in the economy, high skills needs and lower skills needs, because this economy is suffering from a shortage in many respects. The fast track to technology, which is a joint private sector-public sector initiative with 3,500 long-term unemployed people has proved itself to me. There is a very successful programme at the moment in Deansrath College, Clondalkin. I went to meet the group of people who are involved in it and nearly all of them told me they never thought they would use a computer. They were not technology-friendly, yet with appropriate support they became involved in a very enjoyable course which will lead to a successful career. We need to look at ways of fulfilling skills needs, as suggested by Deputy Rabbitte, other than the formal education system.
Has the Minister looked at any innovative way to harness what is required in relation to future skills needs?
The skills group, previously chaired by Danny O'Hare and now chaired by Chris Horan, is composed of people from the public sector, Government, education and industry. It was put in place with a view to doing some forecasting because, due to the extent of our success which surprised us all, we have been engaged, to a large extent, in fire brigade action. For the future we need to be able to forecast what is required, in so far as one can, assuming the current rates of growth continue, so that we can supply more of our needs from our internal requirements. The good thing is that we can respond fairly rapidly to situations. Because our economy is small, education providers can respond to its needs and turn programmes around very quickly. We need to anticipate what is required so that we have the infrastructure in terms of people and buildings and are able to supply people with skills.
Has the Minister or the Government a policy on making the retirement age more flexible in addition to training older people in the workforce and outside it? Are there any proactive, solid Government policies on this matter?
Regarding the skill needs, much could be done with regard to in-house training and back to work schemes outside the high tech area which, in certain cases, is over emphasised. There should be an emphasis on the services sector, an area which has huge potential for job creation.
As was highlighted on the radio this morning, it is difficult to find people to take up all the places in the hotel and catering industry. There are huge gaps in that sector. We are considering out-reach programmes. The next report will deal with the question of people over the age of 55 and how we can ensure there is no age discrimination. It will also consider the possibility of integrating them back into the workforce. Many married women could also return to the workforce.
Very good.
