Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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212. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the progress of the implementation of the recommendations contained in the ICT skills action plan and the measures to increase the uptake of ICT courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42634/14]

Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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Earlier this year, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation launched a revised Government/Industry ICT Skills Action Plan. The aim of this Plan is to meet the objective set out in the Action Plan for Jobs to make Ireland the most attractive location in the world for ICT Skills availability.

The Plan takes a comprehensive approach including increases in high-level graduate output, enhancing awareness of ICT in the education system, maintaining a strong talent pool and promoting Ireland as a destination for ICT talent. Implementation of the plan is being overseen by a high-level steering group shared by the two departments and including representatives from industry and the education system, and delivery teams have been set up to progress areas of work set out under the plan.

In terms of uptake on ICT courses, 3,041 learners graduated from relevant ICT courses at levels 8,9 and 10 in 2013, an increase of over 50% from 2008 levels.

To complement this mainstream provision, in 2014/15 an additional 1,250 part-time Springboard places on ICT programmes, 905 full-time ICT conversion places and over 660 incentivised additional places in full-time ICT programmes are being provided.

An additional 1,390 learners graduated from level 6 and 7 programmes in ICT higher education institutions, an increase of nearly 25% on 2008 levels.