Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)

As a leading knowledge economy, Ireland has a significant demand for the key skills of engineering, mathematics and information technology. In the competitive labour market over recent years supply side constraints and strong demand did create some difficulty at times for individual companies in recruiting suitable personnel.

The recent expert group on future skills need report — Future Requirements for High-Level ICT Skills in the ICT Sector 2008 — concluded that the market for high-level ICT skills is tightening and that projected demand is set to exceed domestic supply. The report identified a range of actions that can be implemented in the short, medium and long term to maximise career opportunities and jobs within the sector. The higher education sector in Ireland has responded to the demands of the labour market through a series of skills initiatives arising from this and other analysis by the expert group. On the basis of the expert group's recommendations for new courses, the Higher Education Authority invites proposals from higher education institutions to provide courses in targeted disciplines.

In addition, a number of measures to promote science, engineering and technology in schools and colleges, as well as raise awareness of the importance of these disciplines in wider society, are being taken by the Higher Education Authority, ICT Ireland and Discover Science and Engineering.

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