Ireland is facing a skills shortage if more of the workforce is not trained in 'green' technologies.
A report by Comhar, the Sustainable Development Council, suggests that Ireland needs thousands of workers, trained from apprenticeship level through to PhD level, if the green economy - being touted by the Government - is to become a reality.
Comhar says that traditional apprenticeship programmes need to be modified so that tradespeople are skilled in green technologies. Third level institutions must also adapt to produce graduates skilled in generation, transmission and network management.
The Irish Government has said it intends to produce 40% of electricity by renewable means by 2020.
Conference hears that competitiveness is key
A Dublin conference heard today Ireland must regain competitiveness, if the country is to avail of the recovery in the world economy.
John Martin, the OECD's director of employment, labour and social affairs, made his comments at a conference in Dublin for International Literacy Day.
He said Ireland needs to invest in skills and literacy, if it is to attract large multi-national companies, who are interested in research and innovation.
In relation to the emphasis on the 'smart' or 'green' economies, he said we have to ensure that the population has the right skills to take advantage of opportunities in the future.
But he also warned that those economies will not be built overnight, the process is likely to be quite slow, and there are more important forces at work.
Ireland currently has the third highest unemployment rate in the OECD.
