The White Paper on human resource development identified the need for increased investment in training as a major issue to be addressed in improving competitiveness in Irish companies.
A number of initiatives are being planned or are already under way to secure an upgrading in the quality of our human resources with a view to reaching the level of best practice in competitor countries, with a resultant increase in labour productivity. For example, an awareness programme on the skills and training needs of Irish industry is being developed to run initally over a two-year period. A programme of training networks is being developed under which State support will be available to groups of firms with a view to developing their own best practice network.
Management training in small enterprises will be a priority for the new company development agency. Furthermore, county enterprise boards will be placing a stronger emphasis on the development of management capability at the micro enterprise level.
I provided an extra £2 million this year for the training support scheme, which has a total budget of £8.625 million. At least three quarters of this expenditure will be allocated to small business.