Keeping Ireland Working Needs Braver Steps
18 Apr 2007 05:07 PM
Responding to today's launch of the Fianna Fáil policy document on jobs and enterprise, Berni Brady, Director of AONTAS, said she welcomed the party's focus on upskilling the workforce, but would like to see the next government of Ireland take braver steps to ensure our economy keeps moving forward.
"We are calling on the next government of Ireland to abolish fees for part-time learners in higher education and to introduce paid educational leave for workers with Junior Certificate qualifications or less," she said. "While we welcome Fianna Fáil's focus on upskilling the workforce, we feel the next government needs to take more radical steps to achieve this than what is contained in the party's new document.
"Less than 8% of Irish adults of working age participate in adult learning and training opportunities, compared with a rate of more than 25% in the UK. Irish adults also spend far less time in job-related education and training than their counterparts in the EU. These statistics do not bode well for the future of the Irish economy. I really hope that whatever parties are in power after the election will take immediate steps to change this by implementing AONTAS' demands for work-based learners."
