Written answers

Tuesday, 16 April 2013

Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Graduate Support Schemes

Photo of Clare DalyClare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the steps he has taken to assist graduates to secure employment here when they complete their studies, rather than have our best talent exit the country. [16661/13]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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The quality and talent of Irish graduates is one of the factors that has consistently made Ireland attractive for foreign direct investment. For indigenous Irish firms, also, talented graduates are crucial in the drive to develop innovative products and services and compete in an ever-changing market place.

Through the Action Plan for Jobs, the Government is providing the basis for increased employment opportunities for graduates, particularly in growing and emerging sectors that rely on high knowledge and skills levels. The Action Plan includes a number of measures that specifically support graduates.

In relation to my own Department, Enterprise Ireland operates programmes such as Graduates 4 International Growth, which is assists companies with ambitious growth plans in key markets to create one or more entry-level graduate market researcher positions. Graduate market researchers work overseas for 12 months to complete a project related to the company’s growth plans in the overseas market.

Enterprise Ireland also runs the New Frontiers programme, which is an entrepreneur development programme delivered at a local level by the Institutes of Technology. The programme provides successful applicants with a package of supports to help accelerate their business ideas and to equip them with the skills and contacts necessary to successfully start and grow their company. It may be of particular interest to new graduates.

Science Foundation Ireland continue to promote the study of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) disciplines, to ensure that graduates have the knowledge and skills to avail of opportunities in high value-added sectors.

The Action Plan for Jobs also includes commitments to support graduates in specific sectors such as the food industry and ICT. One of the ambitions outlined in the Action Plan is that, by 2018, Ireland will have the highest percentage of computing graduates as a proportion of all tertiary graduates. That process will begin in 2013 through a process of increased programme places, reskilling and conversion courses, and through targeted migration of key skills groups.

In the area of labour market activation, the JobBridge scheme operated by the Minister for Social Protection has proven to be very successful in providing opportunities for young graduates to get valuable employment experience. A recent review of the scheme, carried out by Indecon consultants, found that more than half of participants had gone on to paid employment after their internships ends.

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