Mothers have been called upon to help secure the future of Ireland's IT sector by encouraging their children to pursue careers in the industry.

Higher Education Authority chief executive Tom Boland claimed the "mothers of Ireland" hold the key to the country's current IT recruitment crisis, the Irish Independent reports.

Speaking after the launch of the Oireachtas jobs committee's report on how to increase IT skills, Mr Boland said the state is currently on track to meet its target of doubling the number of young people choosing third-level IT courses from 1,000 to 2,000 by 2018.

However, he claimed the state needs the support of mothers if it is to fill the 4,500 job vacancies in the IT sector.

The Oireachtas report claimed the three-quarters of secondary-school teachers without above-average IT teaching skills need to be given more support and training.

Meanwhile, it was suggested that schools need to go beyond teaching the "basic functions" that form the basis of the current European Computer Driving Licence, which is taught in half of all secondary schools.

Written by Donal Walsh

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