Ministers Harris and Collins launch department’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2025
From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
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From Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris and Minister of State for Skills and Further Education Niall Collins launched the department’s Statement of Strategy 2023-2025.
This is the department's second Statement of Strategy following its establishment in August 2020.
The new Strategy sets out the department’s plans to:
Speaking today, Minister Harris said:
“When we set about establishing this department we were in the midst of a global pandemic, but we had a determination to create a new department, a department that would have scale, would have an economic remit and would have a social remit.
“I’m really proud of the progress we have made together of the past three years. We’ve reduced the cost of education, we’ve reformed student grants, we’ve brought about a new approach to student accommodation, we’ve expanded and reformed our apprenticeship system, we’ve created new technological universities, and we’re only just warming up.
“This new Statement of Strategy will build on that progress. Across 2024 and 2025, we will placing an unrelenting focus on the skills needs of this country now and into the future, making sure we have the people to build the homes we need, the people for the green skills and green economy that is here and is embedded for the years ahead.
“We want to make sure we create pathways for everyone, that we move beyond this obsession with the CAO points race, that we make sure everyone can reach their full potential.
“We want to put a focus on access, on inclusion, on ensuring people with a disability can participate fully in our tertiary education system, on ensuring we remain focussed on improving digital and literacy skills, and we want to work with businesses right across Ireland to make sure we meet the skills needs of Ireland.”
Minister Collins said:
“Three years ago we set out our plan to reform the skills agenda and invest in upskilling and reskilling opportunities to drive societal and economic growth.
“Since then we have had many notable successes that have helped transform learning to build skills, foster inclusion and facilitate pathways.
“This second Statement of Strategy ensures that skills remain a strategic priority, and that we are ready to respond to our evolving economic, social, environmental, and technological environment, while supporting those seeking careers in rapidly growing areas such as transversal skills, climate, green skills, digital and artificial intelligence.”