Vol. 487 No. 4
42 Mr. Bell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment when the report of the expert group on future skills will be available; and if she will provide an estimate of future labour requirements in the information technology industry up to 2008. [4096/98]
The Expert Skills Group is carrying out analysis of the future skills needs of the economy and is developing proposals to meet these needs. The group has met twice since early December and will meet again in March. This group will report on a regular basis to a high level implementation group whose task is to ensure that proposals by the Expert Skills Group are progressed as a matter of priority. The Expert Skills Group is expected to make its initial report to the implementation group by the end of April next.
While further strong growth is expected in the information technology industry, projections for labour requirements for up to ten years from now have not been calculated. Indeed, given the rapid pace of technological developments in this industry, it is felt that such long-term projections could not be considered reliable. However, it has been estimated that employment in the industry could reach some 57,000 over the next three years.
