Written Answers. - Tourism Employment.
Jan O'Sullivan
Ceist:
26
Ms O'Sullivan
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if he will make funding available to CERT for the provision of child care facilities at their training centres to enable parents to avail of their courses, especially in view of the severe labour shortage now facing the tourism sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25965/00]
Bernard Allen
Ceist:
34
Mr. Allen
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the recent initiatives he has taken to deal with the serious shortage of labour in the tourism industry, especially in hotels and restaurants.
[25910/00]
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:
42
Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
the steps he will take to assist the tourism sector to overcome the current serious labour shortage, especially in hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25962/00]
Liz McManus
Ceist:
51
Ms McManus
asked the
Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation
if he will guarantee continued funding to support CERT's training initiative beyond the year 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[25964/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26, 34, 42 and 51 together.
The Irish tourism and hospitality industry has been an extremely vibrant one over the past ten years catering last year alone for six million overseas visitors in addition to the rapidly expanding demand from the local domestic market, and bringing over £2.5 billion in foreign exchange revenue into our economy. This success has created new challenges for the industry not only in terms of maintaining its competitive position in an ever more competitive international environment, but also in the competition for staff in Ireland's tightening labour market.
The tourism and hospitality industry needs to further deepen its relationship with CERT who is actively encouraging and promoting the development of training capacity and better human resource management skills within the industry. Achieving this objective will be essential if the industry is to maintain its pool of highly motivated, productive and committed skilled labour to respond to market demand for quality service and value for money.
The Government has agreed to allocate £107 million under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 to help industry, over that seven year period, to secure and retain a professional and skilled workforce to meet existing and emerging needs in the sector, thereby enhancing the quality of tourism product and service. In this context, over £15 million has been allocated to CERT in 2000 to enable it to commence the implementation of its recently launched Strategic Plan 2000-2006 which is designed to deliver the objectives set out in the NPD for raising and maintaining the highest operational and human resource standards in tourism.
CERT is currently undertaking a pilot programme targeted at long-term unemployment black spots which has proved to be very popular and successful with participants being virtually guaranteed jobs on successful completion of the courses. The programme is currently under way in Ballymun, Clondalkin and Merchant's Quay with a view to its replication in other parts of the country which have experienced particularly high levels of long-term unemployment.
Meanwhile, in March this year, I launched CERT's new nationwide programme to encourage people who have been out of the workforce for a long time to take up a career in the tourism industry. The programme of training is designed to encourage adults who have been out of the labour market for a number of years, whether after rearing a family or for other social reasons, to consider returning to work in the tourism industry. The courses in this programme are flexible and have been specifically designed to cater for their needs. The courses provide 100 hours of multi-skills training over a period of ten weeks, with an emphasis on general catering skills. They are provided on a modular basis, which allows participants to build progressively on their achievements and permit participants to complete the programme locally. Also, training and employment is offered to each potential employee on a "flexible hours" basis, typically 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day.
The programme is being made accessible on a nationwide basis and the training centres are located across all the provinces. It is projected that 5,000 adults will complete this programme by 2005. Five hundred are expected to complete courses at 15 training centres across the country this year alone.
CERT has indicated that, to date, the lack of child care facilities has not presented itself as a major issue in attracting people to courses such as the return to work programme.
CERT's annual careers roadshow was launched on 16 October and will visit a total of 16 venues countrywide and hold over 70 sessions in various second-level institutions. It is targeted at secondlevel students from transition year to leaving certificate level and is implemented in partnership with the major industry bodies including the Irish Hotels' Federation, The Restaurants' Association of Ireland, the Vintners' Federation of Ireland and the Licensed Vintners' Association. The roadshow is being advertised through local radio stations and newspapers. On 12 October I launched the careers magazine "Get a Life in Tourism". This magazine is a CERT joint venture with the industry bodies and highlights the variety of careers on offer in the sector.
CERT has also recently launched the new RETAIN initiative to help address concerns in the tourism and hospitality industry over recruitment and staff retention. Financial assistance of up to £15,000 over a three year period will be available, under certain conditions, to businesses for improvement in human resources management, which is the key to tackling the industry's staffing problems. These new supports are designed to attract participation in the scheme from firms right across the industry. Smaller companies, whose individual needs may not warrant a dedicated human resource professional, are being encouraged to consider joining several others in an application with a view to sharing a dedicated human resource executive. Alongside the new scheme, CERT will be running a series of courses for owners and general managers on modern human resource best practice.
In a separate effort to boost recruitment levels, I understand that tourism employers have participated in recruitment fairs in Scotland and Wales which have proved very successful in attracting staff to Ireland. Recruitment drives are currently being considered for other European locations. Irish participation in fairs such as these is co-ordinated by FÁS, which welcomes employers to such recruitment drives. I understand that the Irish Hotels Federation, Irish hotel groups and individual bodies are also participating in EURES, the European Employment Service, to help satisfy labour shortages in the hospitality sector.
CERT will be organising a major conference on 27 November on world class service in tourism and hospitality for general managers and senior executives in the industry. Featuring a panel of international speakers and the findings of the latest international research carried out this year, the conference will focus on the best practice in human resources and operations management with a view to its adoption here.
Question No. 27 taken with Question No. 14.
