The needs of small and medium enterprises are not being met by current State training policy, Chambers of Commerce of Ireland (CCI) president Mr Tom Clarke said yesterday.

Speaking at the launch of CCI's publication Winning the War for Talent: Staff Recruit- ment and Retention Strategies for SMEs, Mr Clarke said almost four out of 10 SMEs are facing difficulties recruiting and retaining staff. He called on the Government to provide greater support for SMEs.

"The new National Training Fund is a real opportunity for the Government to refocus the massive State training budget on upskilling the low-skilled in employment," said Mr Clarke.

He called on the Government to introduce a number of other measures to alleviate labour shortages.

"More could be done to develop the supply of childcare services so that parents, particularly mothers, have the option of participating in the labour market," said Mr Clarke.

Incentives currently being made available for childcare provision should be extended to businesses, he said.

"For instance, why can't employers who put a lot of effort and money into establishing a creche on a not-for-profit basis avail of some of the staffing grants that exist?" he asked.

With almost a quarter of companies already recruiting non-nationals, Mr Clarke renewed the CCI's call for the establishment of a streamlined National Immigration Authority.

"It would act as a one-stop shop responsible for all matters relating to the recruitment of non-nationals," he said.