Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

645. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the degree to which he expects science to play an increased role in the higher education sector with particular reference to ensuring an adequate number of graduates to meet the demands of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40295/24]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

There are a number of key strategies in place at all levels of education to ensure we meet existing and future skills demands, including in the area of the sciences. These include policies designed to ensure a pipeline of suitably qualified science and technical graduates, and initiatives to equip young people and the working population more generally with the skills and capacity to meet these demands.

From 1st August 2024, the newly established Taighde Éireann – Research Ireland is the new national competitive research and innovation funding agency, established through the amalgamation of the activities and functions of SFI and the IRC. Next month, Science Week will take place from the 10th – 17th November and will explore the theme of regeneration. These events assist in developing new solutions and innovative approaches to societal challenges.

I am acutely aware that STEM education should be supported across the education continuum. My Department aims to support effective interventions in early STEM education, helping students engage with science subjects at an early age and foster interest in STEM careers. My Department will continue to engage with the Department of Education on their STEM Education Policy Statement to ensure that learners are given every opportunity to engage with the sciences, and ensure that pipeline of suitably qualified science graduates is maintained.

The number of students studying STEM at third level has been growing, with the number of enrolments in the field of natural sciences, mathematics and statistics increasing from 22,895 in 2016/17 to 26,600 in 2022/2023 and ICT enrolments from 15,380 to 17,745.

Budget 2025 measures to assist tertiary education, including Science, include;

• €150 million for the Research sector;
• €650m core funding package for Higher Education, addressing Funding the Future by increasing core funding by a further €150m by 2030;
• €600m capital uplift including €150m to provide key training facilities in the areas of Veterinary, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Dentistry;
• €150m for the decarbonisation of the tertiary estate;
• €150m for the Further Education and Training sector;
• €235m for the tertiary sector as one-off current funding including skills and apprenticeships.