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MANDATES GROUP AS CORE ADVISORY BODY
Dr. Michael Woods T.D., Minister for Education and Science, today welcomed the launch of the Third Skills Report by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.
The Minister said the Report makes important recommendations on strategies
to tackle Ireland’s future skills requirements, particularly in the
areas of Research, Life Sciences and Information Technology. He said, “it
is widely acknowledged that Ireland’s current economic prosperity and
growth has been largely underpinned by the role that education and training
has played in developing the knowledge-base of our workforce. Despite
the expansion in the education sector since the 1960s, new challenges are
now emerging. These new challenges are particularly well illustrated
in the area of the Report dealing with the Research, Life Sciences and Information
Technology sectors.
”
The Report argues for a substantial increase in the output of doctorates, particularly in science, engineering and technology and identifies a growing need to attract suitably qualified researchers from abroad to work in Ireland. The Group notes the range of initiatives introduced by the Government to promote research opportunities. These include the continuation of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institution, the establishment of Science Foundation Ireland and the establishment of the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology to complement the Irish Research Council for the Humanities and Social Sciences.
A continuous supply of well qualified Graduates in Life Sciences (Chemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemical Engineering, Chemical and Biological Sciences) is essential for the Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology and Healthcare sectors. While the Group concludes that there is sufficient provision at third level once the existing output is maintained, it does highlight the need to address the falling numbers of school leavers interestedinstudying Science at third-level.
The Group revisited the work undertaken in its First Report on the supply of IT professionals and technicians and estimates that there will be an annual average shortfall of 3,300 IT graduates between 2001-2005. It recommends increased access to IT-related skills education through expanding part-time education and post-graduate conversion course opportunities.
Dr Woods said, “formal education, industry-education
links, workplace education, further education, basic
and applied research all contribute to the appreciation of knowledge
capital. The key challenge
for education now is to develop the necessary mix of creativity and skills
to enable us to respond to the needs of the labour market, and to continue
to develop in this vein. The Third Report of the Expert
Group on Future Skills Needs is an important guide to
where the focus should be and where investment should
be made to address the these needs
”.
The Minister added, “in responding to such a challenge,
the need to provide a long-term framework
in which to develop our response is essential. It is here that
the work of the Expert
Group on Future Skills Needs comesto the
fore. The
challenge for the Expert Group will be to keep pace
with the fast changing environment of
the Irish and world economies and to
develop a coherent framework for the
future planning of our skills needs. It
is on foot of the timely and accurate
forecasts of the Expert Group that
our education provision must strive to
ensure that the measures are put in place
to meet the rapidly changing demands
of the labour market in the years to
come.
”
“The resource implications of the Expert Group's recommendations
will be addressed in the context of the
Government's consideration of the annual
estimates. The Government recognises the importance of
such investment in skills in sustaining and improving
Ireland's competitive position and promoting economic growth. I am
confident that its response to the recommendations in this report will
be very positive.
”
Dr. Woods concluded, “in recognition of the key role played by
the group, An Tánaiste, Mary Harney, TD, and
I are issuing a new mandate to the ExpertGroup. This
will reinforce the position of the ExpertGroup as
a core advisory body to government on
skills needs and will better reflect the breadth and
depth of its work.
”
“I again welcome the publication of its Third Report and
look forward to the continuing work of
the Expert Group on Future
Skills Needs.
”
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Organisation |
The Communications Partnership |
Department of Education & Science |
Forfás |
Contact |
Barbara Coyle / Hilary Flynn |
Jacky Hynes |
Mr. Tom O’Dwyer |
Telephone |
01 6601588 / 086 8371701 |
01 8892163 |
01 6073085 |
bcoyle@commpart.iol.ie |
Hynesj@educ.irlgov.ie |
©2006 EGFSN The
Expert Group on Future Skills Needs, Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin
2, Ireland. Tel: +353 (0)1 607 3116