Vol. 547 No. 3
61 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment her views on the recommendations of the expert group on future skills needs report on labour participation rates of the over-55s in Ireland; her plans to address the recommendations of the report; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3282/02]
89 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the steps she intends to take to address the issues identified in the report, Labour Market Participation of the Over 55s in Ireland, published by the expert group on future skills needs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3346/02]
145 Mr. Callely asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if she will make a statement on the conclusions and recommendations of the Forfás report on labour participation rates of the over 55s here; and if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 115 of 20 November 2001, she will outline the measures which are under consideration to encourage older persons to remain active in the workforce. [3684/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 61, 89 and 145 together.
The report in question, Labour Market Participation of the Over 55s in Ireland, was commissioned by Forfás on behalf of the expert group on future skills needs and the National Competitiveness Council. The report looks at ways of increasing the participation in the labour force of that group and makes a number of policy recommendations including: measures to increase the awareness of the importance of older workers; measures to facilitate flexible working practices; identification and reduction of disincentives to gradual retirement that may be embedded in pension schemes or taxation arrangements; and measures to combat age discrimination.
Ireland had an employment rate of 45.3% for the 55 to 64 year old age group in 2000 compared to an EU average of 37.7%. The EU has set a target of 50% for 2010, recognising the propensity for people to live longer and the changing demographics resulting from declining birth rates and older people constituting a growing portion of the population.
In Ireland, we will face a similar decrease in the share of younger people and a growing share of older people in the coming decade, with implications for labour supply and sustainability of pensions. This report is therefore very timely and the recommendations will need to be considered across a number of areas of Government policy including pensions, taxation, equality, promotion of employment and training.
