Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

When I was at school people said that as I was good with my hands I should be sent to the tech. Conversely, I was told I had hands for nothing. Being useless at most things I knew I had to become a teacher. It is a straight line to level 10 and I like the idea of moving all the way to level ten. It is wonderful that a young person completing an apprenticeship knows he or she can carry on all the way to a doctorate.

A charge now applies to apprenticeships that is based on the registration fee for third-level students but perhaps this discourages potential apprentices. How will SOLAS, which is responsible for much of this, deliver on the programme in the five education and training board areas that do not have training centres? Will the chief executive officer of an education and training board that does not have a training centre in its region have any input? This is an issue in some areas and I would like to see it ironed out as early as possible without a row. This might not be easy but it is important, though it may not be the Department's responsibility. I would like to know how SOLAS will address the problem.

A reference was made to the German system and one of our aims is to increase tertiary education by 10%. We need to educate people for jobs and some people currently undergoing apprenticeships will employ degree holders in future. They are the entrepreneurs and wealth creators of the future. An apprenticeship can be a very good thing and a university degree should not be viewed as the Holy Grail. It may be sufficient that 50% of school leavers continue into the degree system.

On further education, is it the case that colleges have no capital budget and cannot qualify for a summer works scheme? Perhaps the witnesses cannot comment on this but surely some thought must be given to funding colleges.