Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
135. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will outline his plans to further develop further and higher education and training for the hospitality sector to entice more persons to consider the sector as a long-term career opportunity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59671/22]
View answerI was delighted to visit Kerry Education and Training Board (KETB) last week to announce that they are one of ten projects approved to proceed to the next stage of proposal development around the country for capital investment under the Further Education and Training (FET) College of the Future. KETB’s proposal is to repurpose an existing factory site into a state-of-the-art campus to develop, amongst other things, a Centre of Excellence in Hospitality Training.
This development will build on the wide range of courses and programmes in Hospitality and Tourism available nationwide. Within the higher education sector, there are a range of undergraduate courses as well as 26 Springboard+ courses available in the Hospitality sector. Under Pillar 3 of the Human Capital Initiative, the Atlantic Technological University Project Higher Education 4.0 has developed the new Level 8 Hospitality Management course, in collaboration with enterprise including the Irish Hotels Federation and Fáilte Ireland, which commenced in September 2022.
There are also a wide range of courses available across the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs). For example the Hospitality Education and Training Centre under Limerick and Clare ETB, which holds a European Framework for Quality Management Centre of Excellence Award, is dedicated to providing the highest level of culinary and hospitality training.
There are currently 3 apprenticeships for chefs; Commis Chef (level 6), Chef de Partie (level 7) and Sous Chef (level 8). An Executive Chef two year programme at level 9 is in development and it is expected that the head chef apprenticeship will be launched by end of Q1 2023. Work is also underway to enhance the progression route from the Commis Chef apprenticeship into the Chef de Partie apprenticeship.
There are also a range of opportunites available for upskilling employees in the sector through the specific networks supported by Skillnet Ireland, including the Irish Hotels Federation Skillnet; the Restaurant & Hospitality Skillnet; the Rural Food Skillnet and the Leisure, Health and Fitness Skillnet. These networks work collaboratively to share best practice and to respond effectively to the specific skills needs of the sector. They offer flexible training programmes tailored to the needs of the sector.
The SOLAS Skills to Advance Initiative has also responded to a request from the Irish Hotels Federation to boost the retention and career progression of key talent in the hospitality and tourism sector. Two dedicated programmes have been developed by SOLAS and the ETBs in consultation with the Irish Hotels Federation, Fáilte Ireland and the Regional Skills Fora, with over 800 employees having participated to date.
My Department is committed to working collaboratively with the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media on co-ordinated policies and approaches to support education and training opportunities for the tourism and hospitality sector based on the skills needs identified for the sector. My Department is also represented on the Fáilte Ireland Careers Oversight Group, which works on a collaborative basis to support sustainable employment in the sector.
