Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 September 2023
296. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which adequate third- and fourth-level higher education places are available for students at academic or technical level; the extent to which the full requirement is being met now and on an annual basis; the further action proposed in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40925/23]
View answer299. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which an adequacy of third- and fourth-level educational places remain available to students in all areas throughout the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40928/23]
View answer301. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the degree to which adequate college places for students pursuing an academic career remain available in all areas throughout the country without exception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40930/23]
View answer302. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which technical third-level places continue to be available in adequate numbers to meet the needs of the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40931/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 296, 299, 301 and 302 together.
Ensuring an appropriate pipeline of suitably qualified graduates is a key priority for me and my Department.
Officials from my Department have been engaging extensively with the Higher Education Authority and the higher education sector to identify where additional places can and should be provided in the higher education system. These additional places will be targeted at areas of acute skills need as identified through our national skills architecture.
It is clear from the OECD report published in May this year that we are not just slightly above the OECD average but very significantly above the average when it comes to third level participation. This is a key asset and one we must harness in order to meet the key workforce planning needs and address skills or workforce shortages of this country.
It is also very encouraging to see the increasingly strong alignment between student demand and what is on offer is reflected in this year's CAO data. A record 57,980 applicants received an offer in Round 1 of the CAO this year. 52,950 applicants received Level 8 offers, 1,140 more than last year.
There was also a significant increase in the proportion of students receiving a first preference offer - 59% of Round 1 Level 8 offers were for first preference courses, and 85% were for a first, second or third preference course.
I have been very clear that the CAO is not the only option for learners. This month sees the commencement of new programmes which will see students begin their third level experience in further education and complete the remainder in higher education institutions. There’s been great interest so far in this new pathway with more than 700 applications received. The programmes this year are just the first phase, and tomorrow a call will open for proposals for new tertiary programmes for September 2024.
While colleges are absolutely free to provide whatever courses they want, it is right and proper that when it comes to the important public service provision, we have a very active interest in how we workforce-plan. In this context, my Department is actively engaging with other line Departments on their workforce needs.
We are engaging on an ongoing basis with the Departments of Health and Education and other relevant Departments, including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, with regard to how the further and higher education system can best support workforce planning for the delivery of essential public services as well as providing a pipeline of graduates in key industry areas.
