Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for the support he has shown for the regional strategy. He correctly noted that bigger infrastructural players are also important to the development of the regions. We see the regional enterprise strategy as an annual strategy which drives enterprise capabilities but also offers opportunities to incorporate regional strategies into longer term infrastructural planning on the part of councils. We want to ensure enterprise priorities are part of the regional thinking of local authorities and the system of regional governance when it comes to infrastructure planning. In the short term we are working with what we have but in the longer term we will be able to make an input into deciding what infrastructure might be usefully developed. I recognise the work that the council has done in respect of the strategic corridor. One of the lessons of the Athenry example is that by working with the IDA and giving some thought to infrastructure, property and other types of solutions, we can strengthen the capacity of our regions. We want to see more people working to the same set of objectives in order to deliver wins in the regions. I was surprised at the disconnect that had developed in some cases between agencies and other stakeholders in the regions. This will bring the stakeholders together in a very tangible way, while also oiling the relationship with funds which they can jointly compete to deliver.

I acknowledge the challenge and importance of broadband. In terms of providing the last 30% with decent bandwidth, we are looking at covering 96% of the land area of the island to reach that 30%. The first 4% got 70% and the remaining 96% gets the other 30%. That is indicative of the scale of the challenge of delivering the network but it is crucial none the less.

We envisage that credit unions can be players in the loan guarantee scheme. Other issues of a regulatory nature have curtailed them at times, however. I understand that last week the Department of Finance attempted to introduce a matchmaker arrangement between developers, equity providers and bankers. It is some mixture of mezzanine finance, lending and equity. Developers probably got used to the model of 100% lending, which is gone forever. This matchmaking reflects an attempt to develop new models. I have not heard a report on the success or otherwise of the initiative.

There are players in this field, but we must match them with the sites that can be developed. It is regarded as a high priority and I hope it will prove to be a successful model. The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, has introduced other instruments via the planning Acts, for example, applying flexibility in development charges to existing as well as new permissions.

There is a worldwide shortage of software engineers. We have set a target in this year's plan to increase the output of ICT graduates by 60% by 2018. This is one of the areas in which industry, universities and other institutes of education have collaborated well. They have good Springboard and graduate programmes in place and there has been good work experience and cross-fertilisation in the sector via the education network. However, even this ambition is not enough. In 2011, 45% of needs were met domestically. By 2018, we plan for this figure to be 75%. We are pushing up the percentage, but we are chasing a moving target that is growing larger.

The Deputy is right, in that more work is necessary on the choices people make in their careers. The extra points for mathematics led to a 70% increase in the number opting to take honours maths. We should start considering whether we could include other incentives, financial or otherwise, to encourage people to take courses that would undoubtedly fuel a great deal of growth in new sectors. Some work is being done on the impact of the Higher Education Authority, HEA. I am looking forward to meeting the team working on that project and gaining an understanding of the constraints on the HEA. Moving from one type of education to another quickly is difficult, but we must find ways to meet skill needs. I agree with the Deputy in that respect.