Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Durkan for the question. There is an exciting opportunity with the creation of this new Department. For the first time, we are bringing further and higher education together with research, innovation and science. This is an education Department but it is also a business Department. It is about trying to get those two working together. Education is about a lot more than just business but it is also important, as we invest more and more in education - and we need to do more - that we continue to ensure we produce the graduates and skills we need now and for the future.

The tertiary education system has a number of key strategies in place at all levels to ensure we meet existing and future skills demands. These include policies designed to ensure a pipeline of suitably qualified science and technical graduates, and initiatives to equip young people and the working population more generally, with the skills and capacity to meet these demands. These strategies and initiatives include the National Skills Strategy 2025, Technology Skills 2022, Springboard+ and the human capital initiative.

Deputy Durkan will also be aware of the focus we put on this in the July stimulus package with investment in more places in these areas. We have allocated 1,450 additional higher education places this year specifically targeted at areas of keys and demand needs in the economy including in science, ICT and engineering. I could not agree more with the Deputy. I am satisfied the strategies are in place but as is always the case with strategies, it is about implementation.

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