Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
134 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if the requirements of industry are being met or are likely to be met in terms of skills requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33999/04]
View answerThe primary responsibility for ensuring that the skills requirements of industry are met rests with industry. There are already in place a number of initiatives and measures through which the Government seeks to work with industry and workers to identify and address the skills needs of the economy. They include FÁS training services to business and the national craft certificate as well as the national training fund which supports employee training actions, including FÁS training, IDA and Enterprise Ireland and Shannon Development training grants, Skillnets network training and upskilling and training projects in individual sectors. The expert group on future skills needs, also supported by the NTF, provides assessments of and advice for appropriate action on future skill needs. My Department and the Department of Education and Science are pursuing the implementation of the recommendations of the report of the task force on life learning.
My Department's budget for the coming year includes provision for supporting greater use of the European Social Fund in the area of in-company training and provision for a workplace based education programme. The recommendation by the enterprise strategy group of a one step up for all is now a guiding element in my Department's approach to employee training. The objective of these initiatives and measures is to provide support to ensure that the skill needs of the economy continue to be met.
