Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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350. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate to what extent he continues to liaise with the technical sector with a view to ensuring adequate provision in respect of graduates in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2340/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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351. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate to what extent he continues to liaise with the academic sector with a view to ensuring adequate provision in respect of graduates in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2341/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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353. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate arising from his discussions with the academic and technical sectors, the extent to which he satisfied that adequate provision continues to be made in both areas with a view to meeting demand and job specifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2343/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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357. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate if he and his Department have identified any specific obstacles which may impede improvement and achievement in the further and higher educational sectors and impact our ability to continue to establish Ireland's reputation as equal to the best globally in higher education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2347/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 350, 351, 353 and 357 together.

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 essential skills, vocational, professional and transversal skills and competencies that will equip them for success in work. These skills enhance their employability and ensure graduates have skills to adapt to diverse tasks and contribute meaningfully to the workplace and the society. With 400,000 people enrolled in learning across further and higher education, the Department is responsible for a sizeable sector. Learning outcomes have a significant influence on people's life paths. Compared to the EU and OECD averages, Ireland has high levels of higher education attainment.

The agility and flexibility of the tertiary system is underscored by responsiveness to priority industry and enterprise workforce needs under key policy initiatives that require whole-of-government efforts and collaboration such as, for example; the Action Plan for Apprenticeship; Funding the Future; the Green Skills for FET Roadmap; and the National Digital Strategy Harnessing Digital. Those concerted efforts aim to improve balance between skills demand and supply.

My Department is dynamically progressing the reform of the National Skills Council (NCS) that is underpinned by the recommendations arising from the OECD review. This reform is two pronged and involves changes to the NSC’s mandate and membership to act as a platform for strategic engagement with Irish industry, enterprise and the main non-governmental stakeholders with a strong interest in skills and workforce development policy to take a high-level and broad perspective to skills challenges, policies and priorities. This reform also involves the establishment of the High Level Skills Implementation Group (HLSIG) to support the work of the reformed NSC and ensure coordinated progress in implementing high priority OECD recommendations, including those relating to improving lifelong learning participation in and outside the workplace, across the whole-of- tertiary skills eco- system.

My Department has made significant progress in removing obstacles to student success and participation in third level education. One of the ways we are doing this is though the National Access Plan where €3 million in funding under Path 4 Phase 1 has been provided for Universal Design measures. Projects are currently ongoing to improve accessibility for all students.

September 2023 marked the commencement of the new Joint Tertiary Degrees. These programmes see students begin their third level experience in further education, and then progress seamlessly to a higher education institution to complete their fully accredited Level 7 or 8 degree. The programmes have been met with great interest, with students all over the country now enrolled on tertiary programmes in areas like Nursing, Software Development and Business. These programmes will expand further in 2024 both in terms of the number of places available and the range of courses offered. Details of the programmes to be offered in 2024 will be announced early this year.

In 2023 and into 2024, €192 million will be provided to higher education including €60 million in core funding to address student staff ratios, plus a further €35 million to address pay shortfalls. My Department will continue to engage with the sector to improve the student experience, and provide a talent pipeline for future skills needs in Ireland.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to indicate the extent to which his Department is focused on the health sector in terms of ensuring a steady supply of graduates with a view to ensuring the filling of the maximum number of posts in the health services here as possible in the coming years, if he could outline progress made in this area in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2344/24]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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My officials are actively engaging with the Department of Health, the HSE and other relevant Health and Social Care Profession stakeholders to ensure that we can continue to deliver graduates with the skills necessary to support our healthcare system and support the strategic workforce planning by the health sector.

The availability of appropriate placements and placement supports is a key enabler of this expansion, and engagement between my Department, the Department of Health, the HSE and across Higher Education Sector is ongoing.

As the Deputy may be aware a large number of additional places have been introduced in the last few years, including an agreement with medical schools which will provide 200 additional medical places by 2026. Last year over 460 additional places were introduced in healthcare programmes across disciplines in the State, including 60 places in medicine programmes.

My Department is a key member of the Steering Group for Disability Workforce chaired by Minister Rabbitte and works closely with colleagues in the Department for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, as well as the Department of Health and HSE on expanding the workforce across therapy disciplines.

In July 2023, Minister Donnelly and I announced additional places in nursing and allied health professions in higher education institutions in Northern Ireland. 140 nursing places are being provided in Ulster University and Queens University Belfast and are being funded by the Department of Health. The 80 therapy places are in Ulster University only and are to be funded by both Departments. These places have been secured on a one-year basis.

My Department will continue to work with the higher education and health sector to provide skilled graduates to meet the need of our healthcare system.