Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
148. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation his views on the level of engagement and integration between the institute of technology colleges and Industrial Development Agency in the current national and international employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45269/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with national strategy to create a knowledge driven economy, IDA Ireland engages with third level institutions in the development of research, development and innovation (R,D&I) programmes and skill sets requirements programmes for its client companies. The Agency also works closely with our higher education institutions to ensure that Ireland has a workforce with skills that support advanced R,D&I activities. Moreover, the work of the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, which is serviced by Forfás, and which has representatives from the key enterprise agencies and the education sector, is critically important in advising Government on the future skills needs of the economy.
I am confident that the work being done by both the enterprise development agencies and the higher education institutions will continue to provide us with a skilled workforce to meet the needs of inward investors. In this context, I can confirm that, to date in 2012, there have been 66 IDA Ireland supported investments with the potential to create almost 8,000 jobs.
