Ireland’s National Skills Strategy

'Ireland’s National Skills Strategy 2025 – Ireland’s Future' is designed to benefit all people living in Ireland, companies operating here or planning to establish here, those working here, and those hoping to work here. It recognises the role that skills can play in the improvement of all and in supporting people here to grow as global citizens.

• A focus on providing skills development opportunities that are relevant to the needs of learners, society and the economy
• Employer participation in skills development and effective use of skills in their organisations, to become more productive and competitive
• Constant improvement and evaluation of teaching and learning quality at all stages of education
• More people across Ireland engaging in lifelong learning
• A focus on active inclusion, to support participation in education and training and the labour market
• Support for an increase in the supply of skills to the labour market

Ireland’s education and training system will deliver more flexible, innovative and interdisciplinary skills.

Public investment in education and training will be put to the best use through active employer engagement, setting clear priorities based on available resources and regularly assessing their impact and efficiency.

Achieving this vision will involve learners, employers and educators, as well as relevant state departments and agencies.

Ireland will be known as a place where the talent of our people grows through the:

• quality and relevance of our education and training system, which reacts to the changing and different needs of our people, society and the economy
• strength of relationships and exchange of knowledge between employers, education and training providers, and all sections of society, and the resulting impact on how people are prepared for life and work
• quality of our workforce – a nation of people with relevant knowledge, business flexibility and analytical skills
• use of skills to support economic and social success, and to improve the well-being of our country
• use of technology to provide talent and skills, to grow businesses, and to improve the lives of everyone

The Department of Education published the National Skills Strategy in 2016. The department published the strategy after getting the opinions of the public through a consultation. The strategy provides a structure for skills development that will help drive Ireland’s economic and social growth up to 2025.