Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 26 April 2007
144 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of skills available to the workforce for the foreseeable future; if particular specific action is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15789/07]
View answerIn an increasingly knowledge-based and globalised environment, the skills required are progressively becoming more sophisticated. The Government has made provision to ensure that we have the best assessment of future skills needs and the policies and training programmes in place to respond to them.
Central to this endeavour is the work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs. It has been monitoring developments and proposing responses since 1997. That work has involved ongoing research into labour demand and supply in a number of economic sectors.
The recently launched National Skills Strategy is the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs' latest publication. This Strategy sets out clear long-term objectives in developing Ireland's human capital through upskilling, training and education for the period to 2020.
The National Skills Strategy will be essential in ensuring that Ireland's education and training systems are able to meet the future demands of industry in the medium to longer term. The National Skills Strategy again proves that if Ireland is to progress ahead of our competitors then we need to increase our focus on skills development at a number of levels.
Firstly, we need to increase the upskilling of 500,000 people in employment. According to the Strategy over 70% or 1.43 million of our current workforce will still be in employment in 2020.
Secondly, we need to ensure that the output from our education system reaches its potential. This will involve increasing focus on increasing participation rates in upper secondary level to 90% and ensuring the progression rate to third level increases to 70%. Thirdly, we need to address the skills needs of the immigrant population and those re-entering employment.
Achieving these targets will represent a significant challenge. It will require an integrated approach by industry, individuals and Government. It will also require recognition by both employers and individuals of the significant benefits that improved training and education has to offer in both economic and industrial terms.
The Government is fully committed to working with all the relevant stakeholders to improve the skills profile of the Irish labour force, to implement the recommendations of the National Skills Strategy and safeguard Ireland's future economic success.
