The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs is one element of the Business,
Education and Training Partnership established by the Irish Government in 1977
to develop national strategies to tackle the issue of skills needs, manpower
estimating and education and training for business. Our objectives are to:
Identify, in a systematic way, the skills needs of different sectors and
to advise on the actions needed to address them;
Develop estimating techniques that will assist in anticipating the future;
Advise on the promotion of education/continuous training links with
business at national and local levels;
Consider strategic issues in developing partnerships between business and
the education/continuous training sectors in meeting the skills needs of
business; and
Advise on how to improve the awareness of job seekers of sectors where
there are demands for skills, of the qualifications required, and of how
they can be obtained.
SkillsIreland, the website of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs aims to
provide digital access to information relating to skills needs in the Irish
economy. The information consists of primary reports prepared by the Expert
Group, secondary research and links to other agencies that contribute data
relevant to this area.
While the Expert Group is encouraged by the progress made on addressing
skills shortages, it is conscious that much remains to be done. In particular,
it believes that it is essential to continuously monitor progress being made on
remedial action taken to address these shortages. In April 2001 the Expert Group
completed a review of progress on the recommendations of four published reports.
Prepared in parallel with other studies, this report sought to identify barriers
to training in companies operating in the construction and traditional
manufacturing sectors who employ less than 25.
The Recommendations of this report concentrated on the need for a more
pro-active approach to improve the supply, content, and flexibility in modes of
delivery of relevant education and training. It also highlights issues such as
the importance of improving access to information on available services.
Following this report the following actions have taken place:
Funding by the Department of Education and Science for 1,000 places on a
new Institute Trainee Programme in 2001.
The completion of a survey by Enterprise Ireland, in co-operation with FÁS,
of 'Continuing Vocational Training in Ireland'.
The Introduction of Net College, a FÁS
interactive on-line training facility..
This report presents the results of research into e-Business skills, and the
education and training required to ensure an adequate supply of skilled people.
Report recommendations focused on the content of the education and training
relevant to e-Business presently provided by the third-level sector and others.
These recommendations have been translated into the following actions:
Discussions in progress to establish an eBusiness Skills Partnership
designed to address many of the recommendations made in the Report.
The establishment of A third-level Computing Forum to address
recommendations on course content and design in the computer sciences.
Development by The Institute of Directors of third-level colleges of a
national programme on access to education in eBusiness for all
under-graduates.
The introduction of workshops, conducted by Enterprise
Ireland, on key eBusiness skills such as Web Manager, Web Master, and
Web Developer.
The launch of a management development programme by FÁSaimed at building eBusiness skills within the Services and Engineering
Sectors.
Produced in August 2000 this report examined the growth of the sector in Ireland
and future growth opportunities. Recommendations included the identification of
most appropriate content of education and training qualifications relevant to
the Shared Services sector, diversification opportunities for the sector and the
attraction of overseas workers to address skills needs.
IDA Ireland
has targeted overseas companies in Shared Services with a view to attracting
them to Ireland and has met with Institutes of Technology to discuss
graduate output for Shared Services
The second report of the Expert Group is wider in scope and analyses the general
labour market in terms of general labour availability and the availability of
workers for the following sectors:
The main craft areas of the Construction Industry
Chemical and Biological Sciences
Researchers
Information Technology
The recommendations of this report addressed the need to improve the labour
supply, particularly in the Construction sector, through such measures as
targeted immigration, reducing the time taken for apprenticeships and improving
the facilities for undertaking apprenticeships. The responses to these
recommendations are as follows:
The main craft areas of the Construction Industry
Chemical and Biological Sciences
Researchers
Implementation of an Action Plan for the Contract Cleaning sector designed
by FÁS in
consultation with the industry.
An additional 1331 registered apprentices in the Construction Trades.
An additional 1331 registered apprentices in the Construction Trades.
Ongoing discussions between employer and trade union organisations
regarding flexible working arrangements and non-pay incentives to work.
Development of a campaign to raise awareness of the full entitlements and
take-home pay opportunities available to those returning to work.
The introduction of 1,150 places in Science for the academic year 2000/01.
Development by HEA of a central database on research activities in Third
Level Institutions.
Proposals on the establishment of an Interactive Science Centre have been
brought to Government.
Since the commencement of the in 1998, Enrolement of 2,141 students on
courses provided under the Accelerated Technician Programmes.
An increase in the number of apprenticeship places being provided by FÁS.
Further £5 million ( € 6.35 million) allocated to FÁS for new courses
in 2000.
Increased capacity in the Institutes of Technology 2001/2002 academic year
to provide training for 8,500 apprentices.
Establishment by, the Department
of Education & Science, of
an internal working group to consider and make recommendations on the
implementation of the report of the Points Commission.
Continued the progress in reducing the burden of taxation on lower-paid
workers.
The Expert Group viewed the information technology skill needs as a priority and
their first report identified the skills deficiency for IT professionals and
technicians.
The main focus of the report was to ensure an increase in the numbers of
qualified graduates and technicians available for the IT and Life Sciences
sectors and contained a series of proposals designed to ensure the elimination
of skills gaps within this sector. These proposals have resulted in the
following actions:
The Accelerated Technician Programmes is now expanded to include IT.
An additional £75 million ( € 95.23 million) for the Department of
Education and Science to provide 5,400 IT-related third-level places.
An additional £6 million ( € 7.62 million) for the continued annual
provision of 1,500 places on post-graduate conversion courses by third-level
colleges in IT-related areas.
An additional £3.2 million ( € 4.06 million) for FÁS
to extend training in relevant IT skills.
The introduction of a new Graduate Skills Conversion Programme, with
increased involvement with industry, to provide a minimum of 1,400 places
Expert Group on Future Skills Needs - Ireland