National Positive Ageing Strategy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 January 2017

Tuesday, 17 January 2017

Ceisteanna (400, 401, 402)

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

400. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.2.1 of the national positive ageing strategy relating to supporting gradual retirement for older workers is assigned to his Department; the progress made by his Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41815/16]

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

401. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.2.3 of the national positive ageing strategy relating to eliminating barriers to continued learning for older persons is assigned to his Department; the progress made by his Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41816/16]

Catherine Martin

Ceist:

402. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the fact that responsibility for delivering objective 1.2.4 of the national positive ageing strategy relating to supporting intergenerational educational programmes is assigned to his Department; the progress made by his Department in delivering this objective; the work completed to date; and the contact there has been with other Departments or State bodies towards achieving this objective. [41817/16]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills

I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 to 402, inclusive, together.

Objective 1.2 of the National Positive Ageing Strategy assigns responsibility to my Department to promote access to a wide range of opportunities for continued learning and education for older people.

Within the further education and training (FET) sector there is a range of flexible high quality programmes on offer to meet the needs of all learners, including older learners, to enable the development of new skills and to support personal development and wellbeing.

Active inclusion is one of five strategic goals underpinning the FET Strategy 2014-2019 which seeks to enable every citizen to fully participate in society.  FET programmes can be full or part time and are primarily delivered or contracted by the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) in a wide range of settings nationwide, including community colleges, further education colleges, adult education centres and training centres.  They are also provided through community and voluntary groups, commercial training providers and in workplaces.

There are over 300,000 beneficiaries of FET programmes annually. The launch last year of  the new website, FETCH.ie provides prospective learners with information on over 4,000 FET programmes being provided throughout the country.

The FET Strategy also incorporates the FET adult literacy strategy which includes a range of actions to improve adult literacy and numeracy skills and includes actions to raise awareness on provision, and to broaden access routes and also the range of provision including distance and blended learning.

Recognising the importance of lifelong learning the National Skills Strategy 2025 has set a target to increasing participation rates amongst adults to 10% in the medium-term and to 15% by 2025.  My Department will continue to work with the SOLAS, the ETBs and other Government Departments and agencies to support the increased participation of adult learners of all ages in education and training.