Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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128. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his plans to develop State led research opportunities for the 4,000 post doctoral graduates who are currently unemployed whose skills could be used to spearhead innovation and job creation opportunities. [18598/13]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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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 contains a number of measures that specifically support graduates and includes commitments to support graduates in specific sectors such as the food industry and ICT. One of the ambitions outlined in the 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 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.

The Irish Research Council has launched the 2013-2014 round of its Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellowships, including the Enterprise Partnership Postdoctoral Scheme and the International Career Development Fellowship. The Council facilitates the career development of researchers by funding those at an early stage of their postdoctoral career to associate with established research teams who have achieved international recognition for their work. The Council aims to support an expertise-driven research system in order to enhance Ireland's innovation capacity and skills base in a rapidly changing global environment where knowledge is key to economic, social and cultural development.

In relation to my own Department, amongst a range of programme offerings, Science Foundation Ireland continues 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. In addition, last week SFI launched a new initiative, the SFI Industry Fellowships programme, which in time should ensure that more research graduates are employed in industry. The SFI Industry Fellowships will also help to increase industrial R&D in Ireland, upskill Irish firms, assist SMEs to develop and grow, and help the IDA win new companies to Ireland.

In addition, Enterprise Ireland operates programmes such as Graduates 4 International Growth, which 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 Frontiersprogramme, 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.