Michael Ring
Question:101 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Education and Science the targets, if any, he has set for extra throughput of students to meet emerging skill shortages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16689/97]
Written Answers. - Skills Shortages.
The skills group, which was established by Forfás, identified skills needs in the areas of software engineering, engineering technicians and teleservices up to the end of the century. In relation to software engineering, an annual additional output of some 1,000 computing graduates was identified. In the area of engineering technicians, the skills group recommended the provision of an additional 750 technician places each year and in the area of languages for the teleservices sector, an additional 1,000 places.
In response to these identified needs, a steering committee, chaired by the chairman of the Higher Education Authority, was asked to identify the most cost effective way of providing the additional software and technician graduates. 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.
On receipt of the steering committee's report, I obtained Government approval for an immediate additional £5 million capital investment to fund an expansion in places on these high-technology courses in the 1997-98 academic year. No financial provision had previously been earmarked to meet these critical needs. An additional 650 places in software engineering and 500 places in engineering technician programmes have been approved for the 1997-98 academic year.
Arising from the work of the joint education/industry task force to improve the supply of technicians for the high technology sector, I have already announced the setting up of a new industry/college initiative to jointly recruit and educate and train technicians. The objective is that over 150 students will commence new courses in January 1998. These students will be recruited on a joint basis by institutions in the third level technological sector and by industry. The courses will involve structured work-placement. Students undertaking these courses are expected to enter the workforce about 18 months after the courses begin.
In the teleservices area, I have introduced a national initiative to provide training to meet the skills needs of the international teleservices industry. Some 690 training places have been allocated in 20 PLC colleges throughout the country which will offer full-time two year post leaving certificate courses in international teleservices.
One of the three objectives underpinning the Education Technology Investment Fund is that of developing new areas of activities within our institutions, especially where emerging skills needs have already been identified. Within the fund, £60 million has been set aside to meet the investment requirements relating to skills needs in the computer software area and a further £20 million is being provided to develop the post-leaving certificate programmes and to support apprenticeship places. This investment will facilitate the provision of the additional places which the skills group identified. However, the precise student number targets will be negotiated by my Department with the institutions involved.
The success of our education system is crucial to the economic development of our country both in terms of our ability to attract inward investment and in the development of our indigenous enterprises. The availability of a highly educated workforce is of critical importance in this regard. One of my priorities is to ensure that our third level education system responds to the specific needs of the economy and the specific measures which I have outlined are concrete evidence of my commitment to this priority.