Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 30 July 2020
667. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which Ireland's commitment to the sustainable development goals will be reflected in her Department's Skills Strategy and Work Plans 2020–2025; the way in which progress towards achieving same will be monitored and reported annually; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19962/20]
View answerThe seventeen Sustainable Development Goals include Goal 4 Quality Education.
The aims and objectives of the National Skills Strategy are in line with this Goal and the actions within the Strategy support it.
The purpose of the National Skills Strategy is to provide a framework for skills development that will help drive Ireland’s growth both economically and societally over the next decade. Through the vision, objectives, actions and indicators outlined in the Strategy it will support the development of a well-educated, well-skilled and adaptable labour force, creating and sustaining a strong pool of talented people of all ages throughout Ireland.
The Strategy sets out a wide range of actions under six key objectives aimed at improving the development, supply and use of skills over the next decade. The objectives are:
1. Education and training providers will place a stronger focus on providing skills development opportunities that are relevant to the needs of learners, society and the economy.
2. Employers will participate actively in the development of skills and make effective use of skills in their organisations to improve productivity and competitiveness.
3. The quality of teaching and learning at all stages of education and training will be continually enhanced and evaluated.
4. People across Ireland will engage more in lifelong learning.
5. There will be active inclusion to support participation in education and training and the labour market.
6. We will support an increase in the supply of skills to the labour market.
The Strategy provides the overarching framework for a range of new measures and existing initiatives and programmes of change which are already underway which are relevant to skills development including the rollout of Síolta and Aistear in Early Childhood Education, Junior Cycle Reform, development of the new Apprenticeship model and implementation of the Further Education and Training Strategy and Higher Education Strategy to 2030.
In 2018, Ireland presented it’s first Voluntary National Review on progress in implementation of the SDGs to the UN High Level Political Forum: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/index.php?page=view&type=30022&nr=528&menu=3170 and has stated it’s commitment to reporting again in 2022.
