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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Third Level Places.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

614 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of third level places available in the academic area and technological area; the number by which it is expected to extend such places in the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17316/01]

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

615 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Education and Science if adequate provision has been made in terms of meeting the educational requirements in the areas of science and technology with particular reference to the current and likely future needs of industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17317/01]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 614 and 615 together.

There were some 116,000 students in third level institutions aided by my Department in 1999-2000, the last year for which statistics are available and my Department is projecting an increase on this figure to some 119,000 in the current year. Within the figure of 116,000 there were some 46,000 students in the institute of technology sector.

The first review of the 1995 Report of the Steering Committee on the Future Development of Higher Education was carried out by a study group under the chairmanship of Dr. Donal de Buitléir which reported in March 1999. The review group concluded that the appropriate strategic objective for Ireland should be to first achieve and then maintain a position well within the top quarter of OECD countries in terms of the participation of the population in post second level education and training, and in the quality of that education and training. The review group noted that existing and planned investment in third level places would result in capacity of 114,000 full-time places by 2001 and it considered that this increased capacity would allow Ireland to meet its strategic objective in relation to undergraduate provision for traditional school leavers. The review group also noted that provision should be kept under review in the light of factors such as unanticipated skills demand, postgraduate needs and developments in competitor countries. In recommending that an additional stock of up to 10,000 places for mature students be built up over a number of years, the review group considered that the demand should first be validated by appropriate market research on the target population.

The Higher Education Authority was requested to benchmark our performance vis-à-vis the top quarter of OECD countries, to monitor developments in other countries and to recommend any necessary adjustments to the level of third level provision. The authority is finalising its first benchmarking exercise which will be available shortly. On the question of provision for mature students, the authority has commissioned market research on the demand for mature student provision, as recommended by the review group.

This Government has taken a number of initiatives to ensure a sufficient supply of skilled personnel in emerging labour market needs areas. The First Report of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs was published in December 1998 and addressed the need of the information technology sector. In response to the needs identified in the report, £75 million was allocated for the provision of 5,400 IT related third level places, £6 million was provided to facilitate the continuation of 1,500 places on postgraduate conversion courses in IT related areas and the accelerated technician programmes were expanded to include IT.
The main recommendations of the second report, published in March 2000, included the provision of an extra 1,150 degree level places to be introduced on a phased basis in the chemical and biological sciences, an increase in the numbers on accelerated technician programmes and increased provision of off-the-job component of apprenticeship programmes. In response to these recommendations, the first wave of additional intake to degree programmes in the chemical and biological sciences commenced in the 2000-01 academic year. My Department in conjunction with the institutes of technology, has increased educational provision in a number of identified skills needs areas. Since the beginning of 1998, 2,411 places have been created under the ATP programme in various skills areas. The provision of apprenticeship training places in the education sector has also been increased from 4,000 places in the 1997-98 academic year to 8,896 training places in the current academic year. Some 700 extra places were provided in a special summer course in June 2000. It is expected that over 1,100 additional training places will be provided in the academic year 2001-02. Plans are also being finalised with regard to conducting a summer course again this year which will provide training for a further 1,000 apprentices.
In 1998, my Department introduced an 11 week summer computing course in a number of institutes of technology. These courses have to date provided training for over 800 participants.
My Department, in conjunction with the institutes of technology, launched a new technician programme in May 2001. The proposed Institute trainee programme will aim to further develop national skill programmes in areas of identified and emerging key skill shortages. The programme will involve close partnership with industry/employers and my Department will provide funding for up to 1,000 institute trainees in 2001.
The national development plan provides for £550 million funding for research activity in the third level sector over the period 2000-06 to support the development of a world class research environment in higher education in Ireland. Funding is targeted at a range of sub-measures including support for postgraduate and post-doctoral researchers.
As the Deputy will appreciate from the range of measures and initiatives I have outlined, the needs of the third level sector are constantly kept under review.
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