£35 million skills investment step in right direction

5.22.00pm GMT Tue 21st Feb 2006

North Down Alliance Councillor Ian James Parsley has said the announcement of £35 million "new money" to invest in skills in Belfast is one of too few examples of sound economic planning in Northern Ireland.

Cllr Parsley, who sits on the North Down Economic Development Forum, stated: "Investing money on skills is an example of a sensible government investment, and is as such a step in the right direction. There are signs that the Government is taking to heart the Alliance Party's call to focus on the economy, and on the skills required to make it a success.

"We have no difficulty with Government money being spent wisely on projects which are of obvious benefit to the whole community. In recent months we have seen a huge focus on our education system, with far too little thought given to skills. Yet it is skills which are required for people to access productive jobs, not pure academic qualifications.

"We have long queried the division between education at school and training the actual workforce. In Northern Ireland, these are treated by different departments with precious little link-up. Yet the two are fundamentally the same side of the same coin, and should be treated as such.

"If this investment is matched by similar sound investments in young people across Northern Ireland to develop a productive skills base, then our most talented people will see a future right here at home. That objective must be central to any political process."

ENDS