Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2022
132. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage the engagement his Department has had with other stakeholders on ensuring the availability of suitably skilled construction workers to meet Housing for All targets. [3048/22]
View answerHousing for All makes the following commitments in relation to Skills & Capacity in housing policy objective 17:
- up-to-date forecast of labour demand and supply for the construction sector implementing the policies necessary to fast-track sufficient numbers into the residential construction workforce. Such policies may include, but are not limited to:
- an integrated education, training and activation response, including delivery of new courses and apprenticeships etc
- working with Industry (through the Construction Sector Group) to review and promote the attractiveness of careers in the construction sector.
- recourse to international labour markets where supply is unavailable locally, including facilitating recruitment from abroad and changes
- employment permit schemes where necessary
- encouraging participation in the Irish market by international construction firms and builders
Responsibility for delivery of the above actions rests with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and employment (DETE) .
DHLGH engages with the relevant Government bodies and stakeholders to deliver these and related actions in the following forums:
- The Secretary General subgroup on Industry Capability chaired by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to deliver innovation and productivity related actions.
- The Inter Departmental Group International Recruitment Sub-Group chaired by DFHERIS
- The Construction Sector Group and its sub groups convened by DPER
- The Expert Group for Future Skills Needs working groups facilitated by DETE to produce the EGFSN Building Future Skills-Built Environment report and the EGFSN Skills for a low carbon economy report
- The development of the pilot Nearly Zero Energy Building (NZEB) centre of excellence with Waterford Wexford Education and Training Board , Solas and other government and industry stakeholders which is now being extended to three further Education and Training Boards by DFHERIS.
