Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Durkan for this very important question. The tertiary education system plays an essential role in ensuring our graduates from higher education, further education and training and from the apprenticeship models are equipped with the essential vocational, professional and other skills and competencies that will equip them for success in work. The agility and flexibility of the tertiary system is underscored by its responsiveness to priority industry and enterprise workforce needs under key policy initiatives that require whole-of-government efforts and collaboration. Those concerted efforts aim to improve a balance between skills, demand and supply.

As Deputy Durkan will be aware, the Department has made significant progress since its establishment to increase the number of places in higher education programmes in the areas of acute skills needs, and this work is still ongoing.

There have been significant investments in additional provisions across multiple programmes and disciplines, including landmark agreements for additionality in medicine and other healthcare disciplines in the North and this jurisdiction. On construction skills, the Department works with partners such as SOLAS, the National Construction Training Campus, education and training boards and professional representative bodies to address supply. There is a significant expansion of relevant courses, including apprenticeships as well as the development of new provision to address innovations such as modern methods of construction. A key priority of mine and the Department is to continue the important work with the Government to ensure we meet workforce demand across many sectors.

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