Vol. 481 No. 1
244 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science whether the group established under the chairmanship of a person (details supplied) has reported on the most cost-effective way of providing extra software graduates and technicians; if so, the recommendations, if any, which have been made; if he will lay a copy of the report in the Oireachtas library; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15370/97]
: The steering committee, established under the chairmanship of the chairman of the Higher Education Authority, finalised and submitted its report about the most cost-effective way of providing 1,000 additional software graduates and 750 technicians annually, in late June 1997.
Following its advertisement seeking proposals from eligible institutions, the steering committee engaged in a range of consultations both with industry and the institutions involved. The committee recommended a capital investment of some £50 million, over the period 1997-2000, in this regard. The committee further recommended that the Higher Education Authority and my Department be empowered to negotiate with the institutions, so as to maximise the output of graduates within this capital investment framework. The committee also recognised the need for current investment to facilitate the provision of these computer software graduates and engineering technicians.
Following the receipt of the steering committee's report, the Government considered the need for capital investment to meet the emerging and critical skills demands in the high technology sector. As the Deputy will be aware, an immediate capital investment of additional investment next year is under consideration in the context of the 1998 estimates. In the light of this decision, my Department and the Higher Education Authority engaged in discussions with the institutions, following which an additional 650 places in software engineering and 500 places in engineering technician programmes have been approved for the 1997-98 academic year.
I have also established a joint education industry task force to improve the supply of technicians for the high-technology sector. The task force is to produce an action plan to address the anticipated needs in the area and to ensure an improved supply of technicians in the short to medium term. I expect the task force to report to me later this month with detailed targets and measures for the academic years 1997-98 to 1999-2000.
On the advice of the chairman of the steering committee, I do not consider it appropriate to accede to the Deputy's request to lay the report in the Oireachtas library as the information supplied by the institutions was furnished in confidence.
