Students should not be put off engineering and computer courses by the temporary downturn in IT, according to Sean O'Sullivan, Chairman of the Irish Software Association's Conference Organising Committee.
Mr O'Sullivan, who is also Chief Executive Officer of software firm Rococo, said that the technology sector in Ireland now had critical mass and the potential to provide well paid and rewarding jobs.
'Students entering college this year are three to four years away from graduating. Despite the current slowdown, the computer and technology sector currently employs some 100,000 people in Ireland with 30,000 of these earning good money in the software industry,' said Mr O'Sullivan.
'Many of the Irish entrepreneurs and millionaires of tomorrow will come from the technology sector,' he added.
Mr O'Sullivan was commenting on reports that CAO applications for engineering and computer courses this year had fallen to less than 44,000 from just over 60,000.
He was speaking as he announced details of the Irish Software Association's 2002 Annual Conference, which will take place on May 28. The theme is 'Selling Software, Making Money'.
There are speakers from international and Irish companies including Accel, Cape Clear, Goldman Sachs, Highland Capital Partners, Lycos, Macalla Software, Network 365, Parthus, Riverdeep, and UBS Warburg.
