Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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41. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation the number of enterprises set up in the past 12 months that are deemed to have a high tech employment requirement; the extent to which Ireland remains an attractive location for such enterprises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22811/18]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Advances in technologies are taking place at an unprecedented pace. Technological advances have a pervasive impact across many, if not all, sectors of the economy. In this regard, many sectors of the economy today require technology skills and expertise – demands for high-tech skills are not merely the domain of the ICT sector.

Enterprise 2025 Renewed reaffirms Ireland’s ambition to be positioned to the forefront in disruptive technologies, embedding innovation and driving productivity growth. Enterprise 2025 Renewed places a spotlight on talent – ensuring that Ireland continues to perform well internationally in terms of access to the skills required of the 21st Century.

Growth in high tech related employment is buoyant and will likely continue to be so in the coming years. This is being driven by factors such as market demand, technology shifts, the impact of cloud computing, and digital transformation of the economy.

A large number of investments by IDA Ireland client companies into the country require technically proficient staff. For example, new projects announced in 2018 – such as Jaguar Land Rover’s planned software engineering centre in Shannon or MSD’s planned new biotechnology facility in Dublin – will need highly skilled employees.

Enterprise Ireland supported a total of 181 start ups in 2017 (90 of which are classified as High Potential Start Ups). The medtech, fintech and agtech sectors were well represented, and the majority of start-ups have a strong technological element, data analytics or on-line presence.

Much of the demand for a variety of high tech skills is in established areas such as software development. Enterprises are also making plans, however, to hire more expertise in new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Data Analytics, Blockchain and Cybersecurity as digital transformation proceeds.

The growth in high technology roles is underpinned by the ICT Skills Action Plan, which is jointly developed and managed by my Department and the Department of Education and Skills. The third iteration of the ICT Action Plan will be published in the coming months, and will build on the success of previous plans with a range of measures aimed at maintaining the momentum in increasing the output of skilled high level ICT professionals from the education and training system, enhancing ICT capacity and awareness, ensuring Ireland maintains a strong ICT talent pool, and that Ireland is promoted as a centre for high level ICT skills.

Ireland remains a favoured destination for investment that requires high-tech employment on account of our highly skilled and flexible workforce. Our education system is also a key factor as it continues to produce the calibre of graduates that foreign and Irish owned companies seek for their high-tech facilities and investments. Investments in place-making, as envisaged in Project Ireland 2040, to develop places that are attractive to live, work and invest in and offer a quality of life, will continue to play a key role in Ireland’s attractiveness for mobile talent.

I am confident, given our strengths and track record as a home to high-tech global companies, that we can expect further such investments in the future. The Government will continue to work hard to ensure that Ireland’s offering to such firms remains highly attractive and competitive.