Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 April 2014
263. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation if consideration has been given to developing an online tool to allow prospective new employers to efficiently ascertain data on education and skills levels in a particular local area as part of a pre investment due diligence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16379/14]
View answerWhilst there are no plans to develop an online tool such as that described by the Deputy, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) has conducted analysis of regional labour markets. The Group recently launched its second report looking at the labour market at regional level. “The Regional Labour Markets Bulletin 2013”, produced by the Skills and Labour Market Research Unit (SLMRU) of SOLAS on behalf of the EGFSN, identifies variations in skills supply and demand by region and provides an analysis of the key labour market indicators for each of Ireland's eight administrative regions. The EGFSN’s regional labour markets bulletin is available on the EGFSN website and I understand that 3,500 stakeholders, including the CEOs of IDA & EI, receive an email alert on publication of the bulletin. Both the IDA and EI are members of the EGFSN and I understand that the SLMRU provide regional/local labour market qualifications profiles to the Development Agencies on request. The SLMRU also provide data to IDA in the context of marketing to foreign direct investors looking at particular regions in which to invest.
