Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 18 January 2024
348. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to indicate if this jurisdiction is likely to experience any shortages of graduates in the future within a particular area to meet the demand of the corresponding workforce, his plans to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2338/24]
View answer352. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science to indicate the extent to which he continues to research future requirements in the education sector with a view to ensuring an adequate supply of graduates throughout in a variety of fields; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2342/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 348 and 352 together.
The tertiary education system plays a central role in ensuring that our graduates from higher education, further education and training and from apprenticeship are equipped with the cognitive skills, the essential transversal skills, and the vocational and professional skills and competencies which will equip them for success in work and society.
Against the backdrop of the accelerating and intensifying digital and green transitions, it is essential that our skills ecosystem has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills and workforce development landscape. In this context, one of the key themes of the OECD Review of Ireland's National Skills Strategy published last May was the need to secure a balance in skills through a responsive, diversified supply of skills in Ireland.
The agility and flexibility of the tertiary system is underscored by responsiveness to priority industry and enterprise workforce needs under key policy initiatives such as, for example; the Action Plan for Apprenticeship; Funding the Future; the Green Skills for FET Roadmap; and the National Digital Strategy Harnessing Digital.
Ireland's success in ensuring that those with qualifications from the tertiary system are meeting the economy's skills needs are evidenced by the results of the Higher Education Authority's national Graduate Outcomes Survey which shows that overall, 81.9% of graduates in 2021 were in employment nine months after graduation. It will be a priority to ensure a continued high level of responsiveness by the tertiary education system to the rapid pace of technological change, including the expected substantial impact of AI on the workforce
