Charlie McConalogue (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses for coming in today to discuss the strategy. I have a few comments on which I would like them to come back. Everybody touched on the importance of ensuring the further education sector is matched in relation to the employment side of its objectives to ensure it meets future demand. On the apprenticeship side, the most recent figures show that between painters-decorators and bricklayers, there was a total of ten apprentices in the system and we expect that sector to grow over the coming years. It is relevant to the apprenticeship strategy but it signifies the difficulties in the system in terms of ensuring it meets future demand and that it is not constantly trying to play catch up. I would be interested to hear any further comments from the witnesses in relation to how they believe the further education strategy for the next five years, as published, can do that and what are the chances we can ensure it will work in a way that ensures it meets demand as opposed to being driven by supply, as was the case in the past.

There was a two point increase in the previous budget in the pupil-teacher ratio in the further education sector. I would be interested to hear feedback from the witnesses on any feedback they have had from within the sector as to the impact it has had and whether that is something which needs to be addressed to ensure the five year strategy can meet its objectives.

Mr. Moriarty mentioned the issue of guidance. I would be interested to hear the views of all the witnesses in relation to the importance of proper guidance and on people entering the system and on ensuring people take up courses and go down avenues which appropriately meet their needs. There are big gaps in the system and if the new strategy is to work properly, it cannot be done without a proper guidance provision system. I would be interested in the witnesses' thoughts on the adequacy of the current set up and what exactly we require to complement the objectives of the strategy.

I would be interested to hear the views of the witnesses from SOLAS and ETBI on the amalgamation of the training centres with the ETBI, on how that is going and if there are challenges there which remain to be met and how that fits into the achievement of the strategy's objectives. I would also be interested to hear the views of the witnesses in relation to the cap in place for post-leaving certificate courses, which needs to be addressed, the impact it is having on the ability of the sector to meet the requirements on it and what needs to happen there.