Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 26: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he is satisfied that targets set in the action plan for addressing high level skills shortages in the ICT sector go far enough and quick enough in view of the fact that there were 1,800 job vacancies in the ICT sector as of December 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25886/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The ICT Action Plan, developed in close collaboration with the ICT sector and the enterprise agencies, establishes a target of doubling the annual output of ICT graduates to 2,000 by 2018. In recognition of the fact that it will take time for recent increases in demand for STEM programmes to convert into increased graduate it also provides for a number of measures to increase the supply of domestic skills in the short term. 750 places have already been made available this year on intensive graduate skills conversions programmes with industry placements. Graduates will be available in early 2013. In addition, 530 people with a qualification at level 8 or Master's level in ICT are graduating this month from the first phase of Springboard 2011. A further 2,200 places on ICT programmes from certificate to masters degree level are also opening for application this week as part of the second phase of Springboard.