Address by Minister Kelleher at the Mallow College of Further Education Awards Night

8^th November 2007

Good evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am delighted to be here this evening to participate in the Mallow College of Further Education Awards Night. It is an honour to be asked to speak at an event such as this, representing, as it does, the culmination of solid work and achievement by people whose commitment to, and enthusiasm for, further education is inspirational.

I believe that our track record in investing in education and skills has been one of the fundamental elements contributing to our present economic success. But we cannot afford to become complacent. We operate in increasingly competitive times and in an ever-more knowledge-based environment. If we are to sustain and build on our successes to date, we must continue investing in education and training so that the labour force of the future will have the skills and competencies needed.

All too often when we speak of education we think chiefly of the investment made during childhood or early adulthood. While it is of course absolutely vital that we continue investing in our young people and this Government continues to attach a high priority to that area, we must also take account of the fact that the majority of the workforce of the future are already of working age today.

It is therefore important that we focus attention on developing the skills of the adult population, so that the Irish labour force can consistently adapt and upgrade its skills to meet emerging opportunities and challenges. It is no longer the case that learning should be seen as something that is complete once a person finishes their initial formal education. Nowadays, we must all look to continue our own skills development throughout our working lives. Therefore, we also need to cater for the needs of our adult population, and that is where colleges such as yours provide a valuable service.

Lifelong Learning is the key for Ireland’s continued success in the future. Although the concept of lifelong learning is well established, participation by adults in education and training is still significantly underdeveloped here compared to other economies. We must therefore encourage greater participation in lifelong learning by facilitating and motivating employees to increase their skill levels and qualifications; acquire new skills and knowledge in new areas and to renew existing skills to stay abreast of technological and other developments.

Promoting adult education and training is to the forefront of this Government’s economic policies. In recent years, our investments in this area have increased significantly. In doing this, we have been encouraged by the remarkable growth in demand in recent years in second-chance, adult and continuing education.

This increased investment has benefited a wide range of programmes and educational schemes. Some of it is being directed at assisting individuals, who are seeking to enter the labour market, acquire the skills and qualifications they need – whether this be by updating the skills of those who have been absent from the world of paid employment for some years, or by providing second-chance opportunities for those who did not have the chance to complete their secondary education. Other investments have been specifically targeted at upskilling those already in work.

I do not intend to take up too much of your time today listing the full range of programmes benefiting from these resources but I will say that since 2002, investment in adult and further education and training by the two main Departments in this area – Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Education and Science - have increased by a factor that far surpasses the general rate of inflation.

My own Department has seen an increase of nearly 50% in this area over the period. This includes a five-fold increase over the past two years in FAS programmes aimed at upskilling the employed. This year my Department will invest nearly €480m on training. €130m of this is in apprenticeship training, €280m will be invested in training programmes to prepare people to take up employment and a further €70m in training those already in employment.

The record levels of public investment now available for adult and further education means that there has never been a better opportunity to return to education and learning, be it in a part-time or full-time capacity. Any adult who feels that they were let down by the system in the past, or who wishes to further their education and career prospects, has the chance now to participate in the many opportunities and options that have become available in the adult education sector.

The Further and Adult Education sector has pioneered education in such areas as childcare, community care, equestrian studies, sport and leisure, tourism, multi-media etc, in addition to the more traditional areas such as business studies, art and craft, information technology, construction and electronics. All these programmes integrate training in the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for particular disciplines, the development of general skills necessary in all jobs such as interpersonal skills, adaptability and initiative and also provide for work experience to give relevance to the skills learned and an appreciation of working life.

Further and Adult Education courses, especially PLCs, have also become an important re-entry route for older adults wishing to return to learning. For example, approximately 50% of PLC students are over 21 years of age. PLC courses also provide an important progression route to higher education through the links scheme with Institutes of Technology and Universities.

Commitments made in the social partnership agreement – Towards 2016 – and in the National Development Plan, which was launched earlier this year mean that this improved environment for learning is set to continue and further improve in the future.

It was because of the importance of education and skills for our economic development that the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs was convened to undertake a comprehensive piece of research to underpin the development of a National Skills Strategy. In March of this year the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment together launched the Expert Group’s Report, which it called Towards a National Skills Strategy.

The objectives contained in the Expert Group’s report have provided us with a roadmap that will assist us in achieving our potential. The Government is determined to achieve the vision as contained in the report and we have already initiated an implementation process. This will involve continued enhanced support for education and training, increasing the awareness of the benefits of training and targeting specific cohorts such as the low skilled to ensure that they have access to quality training.

This Report set out clear objectives for developing Ireland’s human capital through upskilling, training and education for the period to 2020. Delivering on these objectives will ensure that our education and training systems meet the future skills requirements of our economy as it moves towards one that it knowledge-based and innovation-driven.

In closing may I say that the Government is fully committed to the development and maintenance of a high quality education system which is democratically managed and publicly accountable, and which provides opportunities for learning on a lifelong basis. Equality of access and participation, relevance and quality assurance are the cornerstones of our educational policy.

Finally, I would like to offer my congratulations to the students who are receiving certificates here this evening on your achievements and hope that you have found your respective courses enjoyable, interesting and productive. I believe that the experience, skills and knowledge you have received are of great benefit for the next stage of your development, whether it is in pursuit of a career or in further study.

I offer my best wishes for the future success of all students here in Mallow and to all those who are continuing or returning to education, in the hope of broadening their horizons and improving their lives. Your work will inspire and enhance the quality of our lives too.

Thank you

Ends/LA255