A series of reforms announced by Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn and Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation Richard Bruton have promised a total of 2,000 additional ICT graduate-level professionals will be provided over the coming year.
Through a combinatino of changes in the education system and the employment permits system, the Government has targeted an increase by 50% in the number of employment permits granted over the coming year in the ICT sector to a total of 700; a reduction of 33% in the processing time for employment permits; improvements in the appeals process and a reduction in the number of appeals; a broadening of the eligible occupations list; and improved customer service and communications.
Under the ICT Skills Action Plan published last year, an additional 1,300 ICT graduates will be supplied in 2013 by the education system consisting of 700 additional graduates from ICT skills conversion programmes and 600 additional graduates from Springboard ICT courses.
Minister Bruton said: "The ICT sector forms a key part of the Government’s plans for jobs and growth, and since we have come to office we have seen an increase of more than 11,000 in the number of people at work in this sector.
"International research has shown that every high tech job created leads to an additional 4-5 jobs elsewhere in the economy. Fifty percent of companies in Silicon Valley are started by non-US citizens. These changes are a win-win for Ireland, and help will ensure that we can create a truly world-class ICT sector in Ireland, which will provide enormous benefits for the economy and large numbers of badly-needed jobs for Irish workers."
Minister Quinn said: "By working together to design and deliver the ICT conversion programmes, industry and the higher education system are helping to create tangible employment opportunities for graduates in key growth areas of the economy."
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