Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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1143. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the level of foresight or future planning that operates within his Department; who is responsible for long-term planning; the input these individuals or teams have into Departmental policy and practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61663/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is committed to ensuring that its policies and actions are informed by sound evidence, analysis, and long-term strategic planning.

All policy units in my Department contribute to a forward-looking approach through their ongoing engagement with stakeholders, data analysis, and robust policy formation processes. This ensures that foresight and future planning are integrated into the Department’s work and decision-making.

My Department has a dedicated Strategic Policy and Research Engagement Unit which supports and strengthens policy development across all areas of the Department. Its work focuses on horizon scanning, data and trend analysis, and the use of strategic foresight to identify and consider the demographic, economic, social, and technological trends that will shape Ireland’s tertiary system in the years ahead. This analysis is used in the formation of policies across my Department and helps to future-proof policy development and support evidence-informed decision-making.

The Strategic Policy Research Engagement Unit recently led the development of my Department’s forthcoming Statement of Strategy 2025–2028, which I will publish in the near future. Informed by my vision for the future of the tertiary education sector, this Strategy will set out the key priorities and actions that will guide the Department’s work over the next three years. It has been developed through consultation with stakeholders, alignment with the Programme for Government, and analysis of the strategic context facing Ireland’s tertiary education, research, and skills sectors, as well as the wider economy.

My Department’s Evidence for Policy Unit also plays a key role in supporting long-term planning and evidence-based policy-making through analysis and forecasting. It maintains a set of long-term projections of demand for higher education, updated every two to three years. The most recent update was completed in 2022, with the next—extending to 2045—due by the end of this year. These projections estimate future enrolment trends by incorporating social, demographic, and environmental factors and are used to support policy and programme development across the tertiary sector, including informing the annual estimates process and planning for infrastructure development.

My Department at present is jointly leading, with the Departments of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Finance, on a cross-Government Strategic Foresight project. This collaborative initiative aims to build foresight capacity across the civil service and to examine the key mega-trends shaping Ireland’s long-term economic model, with a particular focus on productivity, disruptive technologies, and future skills.

It is my priority, as a policymaker, that we more fully realise the potential of engaging with researchers, the people who are at the forefront of knowledge, to strengthen the future readiness of our policy. The new independent Government Science Advisor, Professor Aoife McLysaght, was appointed in 2024, provides independent advice on emerging issues, and leads in the development of new science advice structures that enable the Government to access high quality, timely, and relevant scientific advice to inform policy and strategic planning. In addition, the Strategic Policy Research Engagement Unit is leading on a number of initiatives strengthen the engagement between policymakers and researchers, for my Department and across Government.

Long-term planning within the Department is further supported by key bodies including the National Skills Council, which provides independent advice on Ireland’s current and future skills needs, and Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland, which plays a significant role in supporting strategic foresight through its implementation of Impact 2030, Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy.

Through these structures and supports, my Department works to ensure that Ireland’s tertiary education, research, and skills systems remain agile, resilient, and well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the future, supporting both learners and the wider economy.