Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 March 2022
423. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which extra provision is being made to extend and expand third and fourth-level education with particular reference to the ongoing requirements of the jobs market and the need to respond in the short-term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13088/22]
View answer424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he and his Department propose to further broaden higher education opportunities for undergraduates here with a view to maximisation of their opportunities in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13098/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 423 and 424 together.
High-quality graduate output is critical to meeting the needs of the economy, and the number of students enrolled in all areas of higher education has steadily increased over the past number of years. Since 2014, yearly graduates from HEA-funded higher education institutions have increased by 22%, from 66,500 in 2014 to 81,400 in 2020. Projections of enrolment at third level predict that full-time student enrolments will rise a further 13% over the next decade, and work is ongoing to build capacity within the system to accommodate this increase.
My officials are working with the Higher Education Authority and with the higher education sector to examine where additional undergraduate places can and should be provided in the higher education system for the next academic year. Any additional places created this year will be targeted at areas of acute skills need as identified through our national skills architecture. The introduction of additional places should also be sustainable and aligned with medium term planning. There are challenges in expanding the facilities, lecturing expertise and clinical and other placements associated with particular courses and, to the extent that these can be overcome, sustainable approaches are required.
While increasing places in higher education in a targeted way is an important policy response, it is only one part of the answer. It is just as important to ensure that all learners have access to the right courses for them, across the spectrum of provision. This year, Leaving Certificate students can find information about their further education and apprenticeship options, as well as their higher education options, at cao.ie/options. I encourage any Leaving Certificate students who are feeling worried or uncertain about their future educational journey to consider all the options available to them.
The mainstream supply of graduates is supplemented with more targeted initiatives designed to meet specific skills needs. The two key national targeted initiatives in the higher education system are Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative. There is a combined total of 13,444 places on 408 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under these initiatives.
