Written Answers. - Skill Shortages.
Ruairí Quinn
Question:
39
Mr. Quinn
asked the
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment
her views on the report of the expert group on future skills that there will be a shortfall of more than 2,000 technology specialists per annum over the next five years; and the steps, if any, she is taking to remedy this alarming report.
[15906/98]
The Government's view is that Ireland's future skills needs must be dealt with in a proactive rather than reactive fashion. Consequently, the approach to managing the emerging skill needs has been to plan to have the supply of skills available to meet demand and adequate to ensure that overseas investors are attracted to locate high skill operations in Ireland.
In line with this approach, the Government established the Business, Education and Training Partnership in November 1997, to develop national strategies to tackle the issue of skill needs, manpower forecasting and education and training for business. The key elements of the partnership are the Business Education and Training Partnership Forum which brings together leaders from the worlds of business and education to discuss skills provision and strategies; the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs which is chaired by Dr. Chris Horn of Iona Technologies and which seeks to establish both the needs for and supply of particular skills; and the Skills Implementation Group which is a top level group of officials also chaired by Dr. Horn for the purpose of ensuring that solutions are implemented.
The expert group has recently completed its first report. That report states that 8,300 technologists — professionals and technicians — will be needed annually from 1997 to 2003, assuming a continuation of the current high rate of growth of demand. The supply of technologists, combining the existing education and training output, the commitments made last year to increase technologist places and the other sources is estimated at 6,100 per annum, leaving a shortfall of 2,200, based on the high growth scenario.
There will be additional substantial demand for skilled and semi-skilled operatives in the IT sector. Difficulty is not expected in connection with the supply of operatives.
The Expert Group has prioritised the interventions which would eliminate the supply deficit for technologists, that are most cost effective and most flexible and rapid. It has also sought to maximise involvement of private sector companies to ensure that the response is demand led.
The Skills Implementation Group will be progressing the proposals to implementation. The Implementation Group has asked a small team to work on the specific costings, schedules and other practical details of these proposals. This work has already started and is expected to be concluded shortly.
