GREATER CO-OPERATION between Government departments is required to make best use of training and educational resources and tackle unemployment, a meeting in Dublin was told yesterday.
Minister for Lifelong Learning Seán Haughey, Fine Gael’s Brian Hayes, Green TD Paul Gogarty and Labour councillor Aodhán Ó Ríordáin attended a “constituency clinic” at the Davenport Hotel, where they heard from education providers and adult learners.
The politicians were told of the difficulties the education and training sectors face in coping with increased demand amid growing unemployment. Participants also expressed frustration over trying to retrain during the downturn.
“There needs to be greater synergy between the departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Education and Science, and the Department of Social and Family Affairs if we are to seriously address the unemployment crisis and make best use of limited resources,” said Berni Brady, director of Aontas, the voluntary national adult learning body. “Government now has the opportunity to ensure that the connections . . . are strengthened
. . . to respond to new challenges.”
The Minister said the structure “is crying out for reform. There is an absolute need for greater connections between education and social welfare benefits.”