Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 1 December 2022
143. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science his plans to develop a policy to address the deficit in sustainable transport and spatial planning expertise, in particular to support level 8 and 9 study programmes in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [59860/22]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring that the education and training system is appropriately positioned to support the growth and development of the skills required the move to Zero Carbon.Ireland has an advanced system of skills provision, across Further and Higher Education, lifelong learning and human capital development, which is agile and responsive to changes in the world of work, in order to address evolving skills needs.
The Expert Group on Future Skills Needs report – ‘Skills for Zero Carbon – The Demand for Renewable Energy, Residential Retrofit and Electric Vehicle Deployment Skills to 2030’ published in 2021, advises on the nature and quantity of the skills required by these Zero Carbon sectors over the next decade, and will help inform the broader response put in place in order to deliver on the targets set for sustainable transport .
It is important to say that the provision of relevant programmes in the further and higher education system must have regard to overall workforce plans which are the responsibility of the relevant Departments to develop for their sectors.
The education and training sector is already working collaboratively with industry to deliver on required skills needs identified in the report across both further and higher education institutions.
In respect of sustainable transport and spatial planning, currently there are a number of programmes such as: Bachelor of Science (Hons) Sustainable Transport Management (Level 8), CPD Spatial Planning and Transport Certificates (Level 8), Master of Science Spatial Planning (Level 9) and Master of Science Sustainable Transport and Mobility (Level 9). There is also a (Level 7) Bachelor of Science in Electric Vehicle Technology course available through Springboard+ on a part-time basis, with 25 enrollments in 2023/23.
