Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Sherlock, for being here.

While I put down the idea of developing a leaving certificate course in ICT and computer skills, it is really to generate a broader debate about what we are doing in the schools in terms of providing students with the skill sets they need for the modern economy and for functioning in a society that is becoming ever more technologically dependent.

No doubt the Government is making considerable progress in terms of job creation opportunities. The economy is beginning to recover, our competitiveness is improving but we cannot get complacent about the education system. As the economy continues to attract increasing numbers of technology companies in which regard there has been considerable success, and as we all become more technology dependent in our everyday lives, it is important that we keep a close eye on the skills we are developing in the schools where there is a captive audience of young people in buildings ready to learn and in need of such skills. Put simply, we need to look at how we are teaching ICT in the schools. I will give five examples of expert views in this regard.

The first example is the report entitled A review of Information Communication Technology (ICT) skills demand in Ireland, carried out by the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. That review states: "In 2011, the former Joint Committee on Jobs, Social Protection and Education identified ... ICT skills demand in Ireland as an important priority issue that required further investigation." The review also states: "In December 2011, Fastrack to Information Technology (FIT) briefed the Committee on a report entitled '20,000 into employment by 2020'and the founders of the pioneering movement, CoderDojo, came before the Committee and outlined proposals to enhance how ICT is taught at primary and secondary level including computer programming languages, coding and mobile and web development."

The second example is a report in the Irish Examinerthat highlighted an ICT skills audit by the non-profit training promotion agency FIT in which it was estimated that there are 4,500 vacancies in Ireland's ICT sector and that these are not being filled because of "the severely limited supply of suitably skilled applicants." The third example is the Government's Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which found that particular shortages included software developers with experience of web programming, cloud computing, mobile data, games data analytics, customer relations, project management, user support, network security and troubleshooting. The fourth example is a comment from Eamonn Sinnott, the general manager of Intel Ireland, who said that the education system needs to evolve to ensure that we are at the heart of innovation. The fifth example is a statement made by CoderDojo's James Whelton in an interview in the Sunday Business Post:

So much of what passes for computer education for kids at the moment is just laughable. ... With all due respect to courses offered like the ECDL [European Computer Driving Licence], it's really just clerical-grade stuff. It has very little to do with computers at all. There is very little in our schools to stimulate real interest and understanding in computer technology.

Those are comments from people at the very forefront of creating jobs and a vibrant economy. As a Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Sherlock will be acutely aware of the need to align the skills being taught to our students in schools with the skills required in the economy that we are trying to create.

I have asked parliamentary questions of the Department of Education and Skills on this issue since my election to the Dáil in 2011 and the feedback I have got from it is that all is rosy. As the Member of this House who most recently attended secondary school, I can tell the Minister of State that all is not well. Programmes such as the ECDL have a part to play - of that there is no doubt, as it teaches people basic skills. People often ask what is the most important modern language for business, and one might respond that it is French, German or even Chinese. These are all very important, but the most important modern business language in many areas now is programming language. Many parents are flocking to CoderDojo to equip their children with skills. We have a real opportunity to bring our schools in line with the needs of our economy and the wishes of parents and young people. I very much look forward to the Minister of State's response.

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