Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 12 October 2017
47. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation the extent to which she and her Department have continued to monitor the availability of the requisite skills in the workplace, having regard to the skills requirements of the high-tech industry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43326/17]
View answerThe Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, through the Expert Group on Future Skills (EGFSN), continuously monitors and advises the Government on future skills requirements and associated labour market issues that impact on the national potential for employment growth.
The EGFSN is an independent, non-statutory body, which includes representatives from the business community, trade unions, and a small number of Government Departments and agencies. My Department provides the Group with research and Secretariat support.
High level ICT skills have been a key concern of the EGFSN since 2013, when it undertook the study Addressing Future Demand for High-Level ICT Skills. This study included a demand forecast for such skills, both in the ICT sector and across other sectors of the economy, over the period 2013-2018. A related objective was how Ireland could retain and attract high-level ICT Skills to address immediate high level ICT skills recruitment needs.
The findings and recommendations of this report were essential inputs into the development of the ICT Skills Action Plan 2014-2018. At official level, my Department has also been involved in the High Level Steering Group responsible for monitoring the implementation of the ICT Skills Action Plan.
As the Department of Education and Skills looks to develop a new ICT Skills Action Plan for the coming years, the EGFSN is now engaged in a refresh of the demand forecast exercise undertaken in 2013, for the period 2017-2022. This forecast is scheduled for completion in Q1 2018.
