Written Answers. - Scientific and Technological Fund.
Jack Wall
Question:
864
Mr. Wall
asked the
Minister for Education and Science
the plans he has to provide educational opportunities for persons wishing to re-enter the workforce in view of the current trend of employment towards the electronic industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
[24237/00]
In recent years, a range of initiatives has been introduced to ensure a sufficient supply of skilled personnel in emerging labour market needs areas. These initiatives have focused to a large extent on the needs associated with the strong growth of the information technology, IT, sector.
The first of these initiatives was the Joint Public-Private Initiative for Capital Funding, 1996-2000, aimed at providing some 6,200 additional new places in areas of agreed labour market needs, including 1,800 places in the computer science area.
Following the report of the interim skills group in late 1996, which identified emerging skills needs, an additional 650 places in software engineering and over 500 additional places in engineering technician programmes were approved for the 1997-98 academic year as part of the Government response An Action Plan for Skills. Subsequently, 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 third level institutions, especially where emerging skills needs have already been identified. The fund provided investment of £60 million for the skills area to provide an additional annual output of 1,000 software graduates and 750 technicians.
In 1997 the Government established the expert group on future skills needs as part of the business, education and training partnership set up to develop national strategies to tackle the issue of skill needs, manpower needs estimation and education and training for business. The first report of the expert group on future skills needs was published in December 1998 and addressed the needs of the information technology sector. In response to the needs identified, this Government approved an additional investment of £75 million for the provision of 5,400 third level places, predominately in the engineering and computer hardware and software areas. Some £6 million was provided for the continuation of the post-graduate conversion programmes in IT related areas and there are some 1,500 students currently participating in these programmes.
The accelerated technician programmes, which the institutes of technology introduced in January 1998 in manufacturing technology, have since been expanded to include information technology. These programmes are aimed at non-standard applicants, for example, mature students, women returning to work, disabled people and under employed people, and those in employment who wish to advance their skills, The programme provides for structured work placement for six months and are based on a partnership between industry and institutes with industrial involvement in course design, selection and placement. To date, some 2400 students have participated in the programmes, which are aimed at alleviating identified skills shortages.
The second report of the expert group focused on a wider range of skills needs. In relation to the IT sector, the report notes that, as a result of this Government's investment, the projected annual supply of IT degree professionals will be more than double the 1996 levels by 2003, while the supply of IT technicians will increase by more than 50 per cent. Given these trends, the expert group did not recommend a further increase in places. The expert group will, however, continue to monitor the situation within the IT sector and will bring forward recommendations as appropriate.
