I propose to take Questions Nos. 67 to 69, inclusive, together.
The data requested are provided in the following Table. Graduate data are not yet available for 2011. However, recent CAO data show that the number of students expressing a first preference for Science courses (including Computing) at honours degree level (level 8) increased by 18.47% this year and over the five year period 2008-12, by a total of 63.5%. The number of 1st preference Computer Science applications increased by 20% from 2011 to 2012. The continued increase in demand for science related undergraduate programmes evident in recent years is starting to feed through into increased graduate output. This is an extremely positive development in the context the very significant employment and career opportunities that will continue to emerge for science and technology graduates and the targets set out in the joint Government-Enterprise ICT Skills Action Plan which I launched in January.
Table 1 — Honours Bachelor Degree Graduates
|
2007
|
2008
|
2009
|
2010
|
Computer Science
|
976
|
868
|
754
|
960
|
Electronic Engineering
|
392
|
273
|
328
|
481
|
Total ICT Graduates
|
1,368
|
1,141
|
1,082
|
1,441
|