ICT Ireland & the Irish Software Association
Submission to the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs
October 2013
ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association Submission to the 2014 Action Plan for Jobs
October 2013
ICT Ireland and the Irish Software Association are the Ibec groups that represent the high-tech and
digital sector. The sector in Ireland directly employs over 105,000 people, with 75% employed in
multinational companies and the remainder in the indigenous digital technology sector. In the last
three years over 17,500 jobs have been announced by technology companies. The sector is
responsible for 40% of our national exports and is home to all of the top ten global technology
companies. Ireland is emerging as a global technology hub.
The 2013 Action Plan for Jobs places a strong emphasis on policies to aid the technology sector’s
growth. This focus received strong support both at home and abroad, particularly with potential
investors. The next Action Plan must build on this foundation. Our submission contains the key
points we would like to see implemented and supported through the 2014 Plan.
Ambitious goals remain. To make Ireland the best country in the world for tech talent by 2015 is by
far the strongest statement of the 2013 Action Plan, from which many other initiatives stem. Having
made this statement, it must be met. Other areas of importance include promoting growth,
particularly in niche sectors, developing a technology ‘ecosystem’ and ensuring business-conducive
policies are in place.
At the request of Minister Bruton, following our meeting on August 1, 2013, we have kept our
comments brief and to the point, highlighting specific activities that will lead to further growth and
more jobs. We would be happy to discuss the detail behind these points with the Department.
Key areas of focus for the technology sector
Skills demand
Enhancing the second level education system
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Introduce industry specific courses at second level or earlier (i.e. computer science,
programming, digital technology).
Maintain the current Bonus Points for Maths systems.
All maths teachers must hold a maths qualification.
Invest substantially in IT in schools, for all subjects. It is the responsibility of the Government
to create and implement a successful IT strategy. The reform of the Junior Cycle represents a
strong opportunity to introduce technology both as a learning tool and as a subject.
Third level and beyond
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Maintain conversion courses through Springboard, Job Bridge and Momentum that relate
specifically to the needs of the technology sector. It is important that conversion courses
receiving Government funds are closely tailored to industry needs and developed with
companies or groups of companies. Continued support for Fast-track into Information
Technology (FIT) is strongly encouraged.
Introduce an Associate Professional Programme as an alternative route to a career in the
technology sector.
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Continue Government support for the Export Orientation Programme which successfully
addresses specific graduate recruitment needs for major multinational and indigenous
technology companies.
Support industry-led programmes that satisfy the skills demand. Increased funding for
industry-led training programmes through Skillnets in Budget 2014 is welcomed. It is
important that funding provisions through Skillnets allow for the development of new
courses that satisfy industry’s future needs.
Promote technology as a career of choice to second level students through the Smart
Futures campaign run by Discover Science and Engineering.
Facilitate engagement with academia on technology course content and activities to ensure
graduates are equipped with all relevant skills for the sector. This can be achieved through
the Foresight Group. Specific agenda items should include implementation strategies to:
o Introduce foreign languages as part of third-level technology programmes;
o Include substantial work experience as part of third-level technology and related
courses;
o Incorporate ‘critical communication’ skills (writing, presentations, team-work, etc.)
into current courses and subjects.
Continue to attract talent
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Maintain the successful changes introduced in early 2013 to the visa and work permit
process. To take greater advantage of these changes, alterations to the approval process for
spouses and partners of work permit and visa holders are needed. It is important that where
a visa/work permit is issued, the approval process for partners is expedited.
The option of self-administration of visas and work permits should be considered for large
companies where a number of applications are frequently made.
A short-term urgent permit for company VIPs, possibly administered by the IDA, should be
introduced.
Market Ireland as a location of choice for tech workers. Ireland should be both a location of
choice for company investment and to develop a career. Two strong programmes currently
running are ITs Happening Here and Make IT Happen. Funding and resources to sustain
these programmes is needed.
Make the current competitive tax offerings more attractive for workers and entrepreneurs.
This includes improvements to the Special Assignment Relief Programme, Employee Share
Option Schemes and Capital Gains Tax (in addition to Budget 2014 improvements).
General cost of living is high in Ireland. In particular, the cost of healthcare is becoming a
pinch-point for executives from abroad. Mechanisms to alleviate this cost should be
examined.
Promoting growth
The following actions can be achieved through Government and industry collaboration using the ICT
Ireland and ISA report, Ireland: Global Technology Hub, as a blueprint. This industry authored report
contains recommendations to increase growth in the technology sector in Ireland.
Sectors where Ireland can lead
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Focus on the development of key sub-sectors, where Ireland has a distinct opportunity to be
a global leader. These sub-sectors are:
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1. Digital Services in Every Business
 Implement a national programme to facilitate businesses to trade online
successfully, in line with the Digital Strategy.
2. Smart Infrastructure and Smart Cities
 Use Ireland’s areas of competitive strength in the technology sector to
implement infrastructural/technological upgrades to our energy, water,
transport and traffic management systems.
3. Analytics and Big Data (already recognised in the current Action Plan)
 Expand the current measures to include the pursuit of the services
component of Big Data and data analytics, as well as maintaining Ireland as a
central data management and warehousing location in Europe.
4. Apps, Content and Mobility
 Develop the necessary skill clusters and courses to complement the existing
international business models in the creative sector.
5. Cloud
 Ensure Ireland has the necessary systems integration and software
development skills required to take full advantage of this new IT
consumption model.
6. High-tech Manufacturing
 Ireland must continue to support investment in the area of high tech
manufacturing, coupled with high skilled R&D and the promotion of
convergence across all sectors.
Collaboration between companies
There is a thriving indigenous digital technology sector in Ireland. A unique opportunity exists to
harness the complementary capabilities of both the multinational and indigenous technology
companies in a collaborative manner. Enterprise Ireland has a strong track record of supporting
start-up, early stage and scaling indigenous technology companies. Coupling these supports with the
work of other agencies, such as IDA Ireland, would accelerate the overall technology sector’s
growth. This relationship could be developed through some specific activities, such as:
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Multinational and indigenous companies undertaking collaborative research;
Licensing unused IP to indigenous companies on preferential terms;
Championing indigenous digital technology companies to the top level or tier in
channel/partner programmes;
Joint participation on in-company executive education programmes;
Bundling/licencing of multinational and indigenous company products and services in a
single offering.
State procurement and ‘born digital’
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Encourage the State CIO to increase the involvement of indigenous technology firms in
technology solutions for Government services and activities.
Introduce a cross-Government policy where any new service for citizens and/or internal
Government users is ‘born digital’, i.e. the service (where appropriate) is digitally based.
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