Irish Vocational Education Association

An Cumann Gairmoideachais in Éirinn

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New Skills Development & Internship Programme Welcomed By IVEA
15 December 2010
The Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills announcement that a new Skills Development and Internship Programme will commence in the New Year is a welcome, if long overdue, development according to the General Secretary of the Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA), Michael Moriarty.
'For over two years now, IVEA has been calling for the implementation of labour activation programmes that would connect young, unemployed people to the world of work, while at the same time providing them with workplace relevant training and this initiative is very much a step in the right direction.'
'Some 45% of our unemployed (128,000) have been out of work for more than a year and many of these are young people who may well be unemployable unless they acquire skills relevant to tomorrow's workplace'.
'When our economy takes off again, as it inevitably will, those without appropriate skills will be left on the sideline. This is something neither the individual nor Irish Society can afford - in the medium to long term.'
'We talk about not being able to afford training', said Mr Moriarty, 'but the reality is that the cost of not training these young people is too terrible to contemplate'. If we leave large numbers of young people to warm the "labour market bench", for the duration of the downturn, what will be the cost of reintegrating them into society?'
According to Mr Moriarty, 'while the 5,000 that the new initiative is intended to cater to in the first instance is quite small; the announcement, hopefully, signals a recognition that our young unemployed can no longer be ignored'.
The Irish Vocational Education Association (IVEA) is the representative body for the 33 Vocational Educational Committees (VECs) in Ireland, and works to protect, promote and enhance the interests of vocational education and training within the wider education sector and the country at large.
VECs deliver a wide range of educational services, from managing community national schools, second-level schools and colleges, Post Leaving Certificate colleges (PLCs) and education centres to providing training programmes for Travellers, adult literacy courses, prisoner education services, Youthreach programmes, Vocational Training Opportunities Schemes, and community education programmes.
VEC PLCs have developed a range of programmes and courses in response to the needs of industry and commerce which are certified by FETAC at levels 3 to 6, and by the professional bodies which set standards for entry into the professions.
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