Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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92. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the latest measures he is deploying to meet the skills shortages that Ireland faces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40335/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The tertiary education system plays a central role in ensuring that our graduates from higher education, further education and training and from apprenticeship are equipped with the cognitive skills, the essential transversal skills, and the vocational and professional skills and competencies which will equip them for success in work and society.

Against the backdrop of the accelerating and intensifying digital and green transitions, it is essential that our skills ecosystem has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills and workforce development landscape. In this context, one of the key themes of the OECD Review of Ireland's National Skills Strategy published last May was the need to secure a balance in skills through a responsive, diversified supply of skills in Ireland.

The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs and SOLAS's Skills and Labour Market Research Unit have a key role in assessing and forecasting for the skills and talent needs in our economy. Their analysis, for example in relation to Green Skills, Digital transition etc. is central to informing responsive planning across the tertiary system, and flexible responses to changes in the employment environment,

This is underscored by responsiveness to priority industry needs under key policy initiatives such as the Action Plan for Apprenticeship, Green Skills for FET Roadmap, National Digital Strategy, Harnessing Digital, the Human Capital Initiative and Springboard +, the establishment of the National Tertiary Office, and our work to deliver more flexible learning options for example through the microcredentials project.All of this work is carried out in partnership with enterprise and is informed by the workforce development agenda led by Skillnet Ireland.

The comprehensive roadmap provided by the OECD Review provides a strong basis for ensuring that we get skills policies right, ensuring societal well-being and sustainable growth in Ireland for the future.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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93. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which adequate higher level places have been made available to the student population in the current year, with particular reference to the identification of the sensitive areas that at present are having difficulty identifying sufficiently qualified personnel to fill the various posts at technical and academic levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40704/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified graduates is a key priority for me and my Department. This year 460 targeted additional places were created in healthcare programmes. This represents meaningful additionality within existing infrastructure, and targets expansion towards priority skills areas. It builds on additional places created, including in Nursing and Medicine, in recent years, and the funding of places for students from this jurisdiction in Queens University Belfast and Ulster University.

The increasingly strong alignment between student demand and what is on offer is reflected in this year's CAO data. A record 57,980 applicants received an offer in Round 1 of the CAO this year. 52,950 applicants received Level 8 offers, 1,140 more than last year.

There was also a significant increase in the proportion of students receiving a first preference offer - 59% of Round 1 Level 8 offers were for first preference courses, and 85% were for a first, second or third preference course.

But importantly, I have been very clear that the CAO is not the only option for learners.

This month sees the commencement of new programmes which will see students begin their third level experience in further education and complete the remainder in higher education institutions. There’s been great interest so far in this new pathway with more than 700 applications received. The programmes this year are just the first phase, and tomorrow a call will open for proposals for new tertiary programmes for September 2024.

My Department continues to prioritise strengthening our skills ecosystem to ensure it has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills and workforce development landscape.