“We are focussed on taking Ireland’s skills to the next level by investing in Apprenticeships and Traineeships” – Remarks by Minister English to National Fine Gael Skills event today Tuesday 23rd February 2016 at 11am
Successful sports teams compete on the basis of fitness and skills.
So do successful economies.
Fine Gael and the sacrifices of the Irish people have restored Ireland’s economic fitness by stablising the National Finances.
Now we are focusing on taking Ireland’s skills to the next level by investing in Apprenticeships and Traineeships.
Skills are the key achieving full employment.
This Government has an ambitious plan to create 200,000 jobs by 2020, but we can only fillthese jobs if our people have the skills to do these jobs.
That is why Fine Gael is focused on ensuring that all of Ireland’s citizens have access to the skills they need to succeed in life; and Irish business has the people with the skills they need to grow.
The National Skills Strategy launched in January, and these proposals we are announcing today, to double the number of apprenticeships to 31,000 through 100 new Apprenticeship Schemes mark a step change in the approach to skills development.
Apprenticeships are a tried and tested method of on the job training and skills development.
They offer young people a great way to build a worthwhile career.
We are expanding this approach to address skills needs across a much broader range of careers.
I would like to see every talented young person consider an Apprenticeship as an option for building their career.
Just like Jamie Oliver, Stella McCartney and Formula One Technical Director Ross Brawn did.
We are also proposing to create more and improved trainee ships, build on the Springboard and Momentum Programmes and support the creation of Technological Universities.
Our approach to skills development is based on partnership.
We listen to industry and work with them to address the skills needs they have.
That means that people can confident that the courses they do will result in a job.
That matters because as the Taoiseach has said “a job doesn’t just mean an income. A job can transform a life. Give a person a role and a stake. A job offers the chance to make a contribution. It helps young people, in particular, find their own path in life and strike out to a new future
Fine Gael in Government will deliver the skills to generate jobs and sustainable economic growth and help Ireland and its people strike out to a new and better future.