News & Events

EGFSN welcomes the launch of the National Skills Council (NSC)

Tony Donohoe has been appointed the new Chair of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN)

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) welcomes the establishment of the new National Skills Council (NSC). This is the final step in the establishment of a new national skills architecture following the restructuring of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) earlier this month.

The NSC will oversee research and provide advice on the prioritisation of identified skills needs and how to secure the delivery of identified needs. The membership will be drawn from a cross-section of employer, educator and government bodies. The new skills infrastructure will ensure that the key elements of the EGFSN model of analysis and horizon scanning with close engagement with enterprise will be maintained and further strengthened.

Mr Tony Donohoe, a former member of the EGFSN has been appointed as Chair in the newly restructured EGFSN.

Tony Donohoe is head of education, social and innovation policy in the Irish Business and Employers Confederation (Ibec). Following a career in business journalism, Tony has worked with the Confederation for over 30 years in a number of roles including publications editor and head of research and information services. He took up his current position in IBEC in 2006

‘In my new role as Chair, I look forward to working alongside my colleagues in the EGFSN. We will continue our important work, researching and identifying the skills needs of the Irish economy by engaging with HEA, SOLAS, QQI, the Regional Education Fora, education and training providers and the enterprise sector. By bringing our findings to the new National Skills Council, it can ensure that investment is prioritised according to our economy’s needs’.

‘I would like to pay my regards to my predecessor Ms Una Halligan, who chaired the EFGSN since 2009 and the former members of the Group who contributed expertly to the many reports published under the EGFSN banner’.

 Contact:

Press Office

Department Of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation

01-6312200

press.office@djei.ie

Editor’s Note:

The Government’s National Skills Strategy was launched in 2016 and it foresaw the establishment of a National Skills Council (NSC). The NSC was launched by the Minister for Education and Skills, Mr. Richard Bruton T.D., and the Minister of State for Training and Skills, Mr. John Halligan T.D. on the 27th April 2017. The purpose of the (NSC) is to make Ireland a leader in anticipating and responding to the rapidly changing skills needs across all sectors.

Established in 1997, the EGFSN, under the new skills architecture, will continue to conduct research and identify skills needs and submit its findings and make recommendations to the NSC.

Mr Tony Donohoe was appointed Chair of the EGFSN in April 2017.

Members of the EGFSN:

Tony Donohoe - Ibec

Kathleen Gavin – Department of Education & Skills

Declan Hughes – Assistant Secretary Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation

Kevin Daly – Principal Officer Department of Jobs, Enterprise & Innovation

Bryan Fields – SOLAS

John McGrath – SOLAS

Vivienne Patterson – HEA

Mark Christal – Enterprise Ireland

Ray Bowe – IDA Ireland

Peter Rigney - ICTU