Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 February 2023
468. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which he expects the third level educational system here to deliver adequate and suitably qualified graduates to meet the demands of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7402/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra470. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he and his Department have identified specific issues likely to contribute to further improvement and achievement in the further and higher educational sectors with a view to establishing a reputation equal to the best globally; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7404/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra471. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the degree to which he expects to be in a position to continue to influence the higher education system to ensure the ongoing availability of a steady stream of highly qualified technicians and academics on par with the best in the world, thus providing a workforce competent in the skills now required in the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7405/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra475. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the extent to which students with a technical qualification at a higher-level are becoming available to meet the market requirements throughout the country in sufficient numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7409/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 468, 470, 471 and 475 together.
A priority focus of my Department is to strengthen the skills ecosystem in Ireland to ensure it has the agility and flexibility to adapt to changing priorities in the skills landscape and the rapid, technologically driven changes that we are seeing in the world of work. This is essential to ensuring that Ireland continues to have a skilled and productive workforce.
My Department’s project with the OECD, to review Ireland’s skills approach has seen a comprehensive review through 2022 and the early months of 2023 of these issues. Clear areas of focus emerging include our need to have more dynamic, granular, real-time data to inform how we respond rapidly to industry's needs, particularly across digital skills demands in all sectors; our intent to continue focus on short, flexible and blended skilling options for individuals entering and for people transitioning in the workforce; and, our ambition to progress ease of navigability through options for skilling and ensuring individualised, continuous learning journeys are enabled, encouraged and as easy as possible to undertake.
Our existing National Skills Strategy (currently in place 2016-2025) got a lot right. Partnership was woven into the central fabric of our skills policy approach and continues to be a central focus in how we address future skills needs. Skillnet Ireland are undertaking a significant programme of work to embed enterprise driven responses to Ireland’s skills needs.
There are a number of key skills areas which are being progressed at present, including digital skills, green skills, and transversal skills, all of which will have a significant and long-lasting impact.
For example, in February 2022 government launched ‘Harnessing Digital – Ireland’s National Digital Strategy’, through which we have committed to driving digital skills offerings to enable all across the labour market. This is in addition to providing digital skills for all, with a target of increasing the share of adults with at least basic digital skills to 80% by 2030; and, increasing the numbers of learners graduating with higher-level digital skills to over 12,400 graduates, apprentices and trainees, with ambition to further increase digital skills provision in following years.
In addition, the Green Skills for FET Roadmap 2021-2030 launched in March 2022 and incorporates the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, and the Green Skills Action Programme, which began in 2021. This document captures key areas for the FET sector that are necessary to meet the challenges of the green economy and tackle climate change. My Department will continue to work to develop enterprise-relevant courses / micro-credentials to support reskilling and upskilling for residential retrofitting, green skills and offshore renewable energy.
In May last, I launched ‘Funding the Future’, a landmark policy which sets out an ambitious programme of reform. This includes five priority strands of work, one of which is focused on ensuring that our higher education system can deliver on the skills and talent needs of our society and economy.
In Higher Education, the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) forms a key part of the strategic response to a changing world of work and the challenges the economy will face in the period ahead. With a strong focus on innovation and agility, the programmes being supported will ensure that graduates from the education system as a whole, are in a position to respond positively to the challenges and opportunities ahead.
In relation to research talent, I launched Impact 2030: Ireland’s Research and Innovation Strategy in May 2022. A key aim of Impact 2030 is to ensure that researchers have the right skills development and career opportunities so that they can make their maximum contribution, whether in academia, industry, the public sector or elsewhere. Career pathways will be improved, starting with the national review of State supports for PhD researchers that I announced in October 2022. Having identified the need for more evidence (for example, around intersectional mobility, career pathways and demand for research talent), my Department leads, in partnership with the OECD, the aforementioned 2022 Skills Strategy Project. Pending finalisation of the outputs of the 2022 Skills Strategy Project , further more focused work may be undertaken in order to inform future policy development and investment decisions.
It is these collaborative partnerships that are ensuring that Ireland’s future skills needs will be met, and will respond with agility to the needs of industry.
