Tourist industry experiencing shortage of workers

Young people are being encouraged to consider a career in the tourist industry after a new study has found a shortage of workers.

There is a lack of qualified junior chefs and receptionists amongst other skills according to the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

Fáilte Ireland is welcoming the research, saying for the first time we now have a clear idea on where skills are needed.

Head of Hospitality with Fáilte Ireland John Mulcahy says though it is concerning heading into the 1916 centenary.

"We'd be worried about it from the point of view of how a tourist experiences the services, you know the normal restaurant or a pub or a hotel or whatever, that's where we'd have concerns.

"In the short term, Fáilte Ireland are certainly working on this, while we have a tender out at the moment looking for providers that could provide junior chefs by the middle of March next year."