Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 January 2013
266. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the recent reports of skill shortages amongst Irish graduates resulting in 36% of companies here hiring from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3037/13]
View answer267. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the reported shortage of Irish graduates in computing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3039/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together.
As part of the implementation of the National Strategy for Higher Education, IBEC, in cooperation with the Higher Education Authority and higher education institutions, completed the first pilot national survey of employers in December 2012. The overall results of the survey, which are available on the HEA website (www.hea.ie), were very positive, with over 75% of companies expressing confidence that graduates have the right workplace and transferable skills and relevant subject or discipline knowledge. The survey results show that the 36% of companies that recruited graduates from outside the State in the last two years did so for a number of different reasons, including the promotion of an international workforce and a lack of interest from candidates in Ireland. While overall numbers were small, a relatively large proportion of computing and engineering graduates were reported as being recruited from outside the state because of an insufficient number of suitable candidates available in Ireland. The joint Government-Industry Action Plan, which I launched in January 2012, was developed as a direct response to specific ICT skills shortages. The Plan outlines a range of short, medium and long term measures to develop a sustainable domestic supply of high quality ICT graduates to support the further expansion and development of ICT sector and support innovation and growth across other sectors of the economy. As part of the Plan, more than 700 places have been provided from March 2012 on intensive level 8 ICT skills conversion programmes, designed and delivered in partnership with industry. Due to very positive initial evaluation and strong industry endorsement a tender for a second phase of the conversion programmes was issued by the HEA in November 2012. Details of the courses selected will be available shortly. 1,800 people also enrolled on ICT programmes as part of Springboard 2011 and a further 2,200 places have been made available on ICT programmes under the second phase of Springboard 2012. The Plan has helped to raise awareness of employment opportunities in ICT and there was an increase of 20% in CAO first preference applications and an increase of 10% in acceptances for level 8 Computing courses in 2012. There was also an increase of 35% in the numbers of students taking higher level maths in the Leaving Certificate following the introduction of bonus points in 2012. Other actions provided from in the Plan are also underway including the establishment in January 2012 of a high level Academic Industry Foresight Group, chaired by the Chair of the HEA and with strong industry high level industry membership.
