Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 28 June 2017
41. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to calls by an organisation (details supplied) for emergency measures to be put in place to solve a shortage of chefs across the country (details supplied); the status of the CERT national hospitality training centre in Amiens Street; and his views on whether 5,000 chefs will be needed to fill vacancies by 2018. [29964/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of calls for the re-establishment of CERT, the Council for Education, Recruitment and Training. CERT was dissolved in 2003 upon the establishment of Fáilte Ireland under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003. In line with other sectors, education and training for the hospitality sector is primarily funded and delivered through the higher and further education, and training bodies, namely the Institutes of Technology and the Education and Training Boards, with complementary training and business supports provided by Fáilte Ireland.
There are no plans to establish a dedicated training organisation for the tourism and hospitality sector.
The further development of training will be guided by the ongoing work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which is a matter for the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and the Skills and Labour Market Research undertaken by SOLAS. A Hospitality Skills Oversight Group was established in early 2016 to ensure the skills needs of the hospitality sector are met.
Fáilte Ireland has certain statutory functions, including promoting and supporting the recruitment, training, and education and development, of people for the purpose of employment in connection with the tourism industry in the State. Fáilte Ireland's priorities within the tourism industry are for on-site practical training interventions to boost productivity and sustain employment.
With specific regard to chef training, Fáilte Ireland is playing a leading role in the development of a culinary apprenticeship programme through its participation, together with industry stakeholders, on a consortium collaborating on its development. I am pleased to say that good progress is being made in the development of the apprenticeship programme and it is expected that the first intake of apprentices will commence in the autumn.
