Written answers

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Department of Education and Skills

Skills Shortages

Photo of Tom FlemingTom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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503. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the measures she is taking to address the 2015 National Skills Bulletin Report by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which identified a skills shortage in a number of areas, mostly in the information and technology sector, but also in the engineering, science and health sectors; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41587/15]

Photo of Jan O'SullivanJan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The EGFSN has highlighted a number of areas where there are skills shortages. The scale of these shortages varies and there can be a variety of reasons that impact on the ability of employers to recruit.

The second National Employers Survey which was published last May found that three quarters of foreign employers feel that there will be an adequate supply of graduates in the next three to five years. This is a great vote of confidence in Ireland and our education and training providers.

As the Deputy will be aware, there is a worldwide demand for ICT skills and in particular for those with ICT skills and relevant industry experience.

Given the scale of demand for ICT skills, the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation launched a revised Government/Industry ICT Skills Action Plan in 2014. The Plan takes a comprehensive approach including increases in high-level graduate output, enhancing awareness of ICT as a career among students, 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.

ICT graduate output from the higher education sector has increased significantly since the first ICT plan was published in 2011.

As well as mainstream provision in the higher education sector, Springboard+ 2015, which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, is providing over 9,000 free higher education places for jobseekers who wish to upskill or reskill in areas where there are identified skills needs. This is the largest Springboard offering to-date.

ICT conversion courses are also open to a wide cohort of applicants given the priority in this area.

Employment outcomes for Springboard graduates are very strong and further information on outcomes is available in the trend analysis reports published on my Department's website.

In addition, under Momentum 6,000 free further education and training places have been made available for long-term jobseekers, on courses where there are identified skills needs.

Following on from a comprehensive review of the Irish apprenticeship system, a major initiative is also underway to reform and expand apprenticeship. The content of existing apprenticeships is being modernised, with new curricula being rolled out in five of the most popular trades and a curriculum review underway in the remaining trades. A new Apprenticeship Council has been established that is prioritising the development of 25 new apprenticeships in areas such as ICT, financial services, transport and tourism and hospitality. These new apprenticeships are being progressed following the evaluation of responses to a call for proposals from employers and education and training providers. This expansion of apprenticeship will provide new options for school leavers as well as for those seeking to reskill or upskill in the labour market.

The Deputy may also be aware that, as part of the Action Plan for Jobs 2015, my Department is leading on the development of a new National Skills Strategy. The Strategy will aim to ensure that Ireland's current and future workforce needs are met through increased participation, educational attainment, skills development and skill use to achieve greater productivity and support economic and social prosperity and growth. I have invited all interested parties to contribute to the process by submitting their views, on the development of the Strategy, before Tuesday 1st December 2015. Full details on the consultation process are available on the Department's website at www.education.ie As part of this work, my Department is also leading a project to create a network of regional skills fora to foster greater engagement between the education and training system, employers and other local stakeholders in building the skills needs of their regions.

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