Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

337. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of additional honours level ICT graduate professionals that entered the Irish labour market in 2013; the number of these that were attracted from outside Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4183/14]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The rapidly evolving ICT sector represents both a challenge and an opportunity for Ireland, and it is my intention and the intention of my colleagues in Government to harness to the greatest extent possible developments in this sphere to the benefit of the country. The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs (EGFSN) published a report in November 2013 that projects more than 44,500 potential job openings for ICT professionals in Ireland over the period from 2013 to 2018, including almost 20,400 potential job openings for both new graduates and skilled professionals between 2013 and 2015.

Having consulted with my colleague, Mr. Ruairi Quinn TD, Minister for Education and Skills, who has responsibility for first tracking graduate destinations for graduates, I understand the following to be the case. While it is not possible to quantify the numbers of graduates entering the labour market from Irish and EEA institutions, the November 2013 EGFSN report, “Addressing Future Demand for High-Level ICT Skills”, sets out forecasts for ICT graduate supply to 2018. The forecasts, which were prepared by the Higher Education Authority, indicate that 3,331 people were expected to graduate from mainstream ICT programmes at level 8 and above during 2013. As a proportion of these graduates would be expected to go on to further study, take up employment abroad or be otherwise unavailable for employment in Ireland, the report estimates that an additional 2,274 level 8+ mainstream graduates would be available for employment in Ireland in 2013. A further 883 people were also expected to graduate from conversion programmes at level 8 and above and be available for employment during 2013.

In tandem with these numbers, commitments made in the Action Plan for Jobs (APJ) 2013 for this Department, have delivered a range of additional measures to streamline and simplify the Employment Permit application process, with shortages in the ICT sector specifically in mind. Almost half (1,463) of new Employment Permits issued during 2013 were for applicants with critical ICT skills, both within and beyond the ICT sector itself, of which 61 were in respect of non-EEA graduates of both Irish and foreign colleges. Potential job openings for ICT graduate professionals was estimated at 5,548 by the EGFSN in 2013 leaving the remainder to be filled from other sources.

The Minister for Education and Skills and I are currently developing a new ICT Action Plan, informed by the progress to date in implementing the measures under the first ICT Action Plan, and the EGFSN Report. Under the first ICT Action Plan, doubling of level 8 graduate output is now expected to be achieved by 2015 (3 years ahead of schedule). There has been a 58% increase in the number of students presenting for higher level maths over past 3 years, 4,000 places have been provided on ICT reskilling/conversion courses at level 8 and over.

The latest EGFSN report presents new demand scenarios for high level ICT skills to 2018. The New Plan will bring together actions by industry, education providers and the state sector to meet the challenge of ICT skills shortages. It will be launched shortly. The focus of the new Plan will be on increasing the supply of graduates and skilled professionals with core ICT/electronic engineering qualifications at honours degree level and above in both the short term and medium term.