Ms Una Fitzpatrick:

Unfortunately, the number of females in the tech industry continues to be a problem despite long advocacy work and work across the board by many people in this room and many agencies and Departments. The levels are not where we want them to be. The Irish level is above the European average but that average is very low so that does not say a whole lot. Efforts are being made. The industry is committed on the issue and anything that can be done is being done. There are many programmes in that regard. We run a number of female-driven Skillnet programmes. Women ReBOOT is a particularly notable example. However, the pipeline is a concern in respect purely of the numbers coming through, leaving gender concerns aside. We have always tried to do some forecasting for the numbers that are going to be needed. Somebody once said that if everyone doing the leaving certificate next year did a technology or tech-type course, it still would not be enough in four years' time. That is the level of the shortfall.

The thing with technology is that it is ubiquitous and cross-sectoral. As Mr. O'Donovan mentioned earlier, it is not just the tech sector that needs these skills. We are in competition with many other sectors, including the banking, medical technology and pharmaceutical industries. Everyone is looking for these skills. There are negative headlines at the moment, which is understandable, but we need the mammies, daddies and students of Ireland not to turn away from considering tech as a career because tech skills offer the opportunity to have a career in any sector. They are a great foundation for anyone. There is still a lot of work to do in respect of driving up the numbers in the different pathways. I mentioned to Deputy Bruton that there are many alternative pathways into the sector as well as the traditional routes. We must, in particular, increase female participation. Computer science is now available at leaving certificate level. We must ensure that is rolled out as far and wide as possible, especially among schools availing of the Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools, DEIS, scheme, and female-only schools. We are conscious of that and are working with the Department in that regard. It takes time to implement change but it would help if there was earlier exposure for students. One has to be able to see it to be it. Many of our companies, post pandemic, can now facilitate student visits again. We hope that will help.