Gay Mitchell
Question:34 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Education and Science the additional provision over and above the existing announcement he plans for the 1998-99 academic year to meet emergency skills shortages. [7461/98]
Written Answers. - Skill 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 additional technician places. In the area of languages for the teleservices sector, the need for additional places was also identified by the skills group.
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 over 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, educate and train technicians. Almost 300 students have commenced courses in nine institutes of technology from January 1998, which involve structured work-placement, and it is expected that these students will 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 skill needs of the international teleservices industry. Over 400 training places have been filled in 20 PLC colleges throughout the country which will offer full-time two year post leaving certificate courses in international teleservices.
Following these immediate responses, the Government announced the establishment of the £250 million education technology investment fund and the Scientific and Technological Education Fund Bill was enacted in December 1997. One of the objectives of the fund is to develop new areas of activities in our institutions, especially where emerging skills needs have already been identified. The additional investment of £60 million targeted for the skills area will ensure the proposed expansion programme can proceed effectively and within the necessary timeframe. A further £20 million is provided within the fund for developing the PLC and apprenticeship areas. The precise student number targets will be negotiated by my Department with the institutions involved.
As the Deputy will be aware, a widely representative business-education partnership forum, to be co-chaired by the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and myself, has been established in tandem with an expert group to advise on future skills needs and forecasting techniques and an implementation group, comprising the chairman of the expert group, the relevant secretaries general of the appropriate Departments, the chief executive of Forfás and the chairman of the Higher Education Authority. I am confident that this structure will ensure that our education system continues to adequately respond to the specific needs of the economy.