Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I thank all the Deputies for their comments. The Minister of State, Deputy English, and I are working closely on all these issues. We would both agree with the last point that we need to value further education because it does not receive the recognition it should. That is part of the work we are doing at the moment. Ballyfermot is a good example of a college of further education whose work has been widely recognised.

We all feel strongly about participation rates and want to ensure they grow. Equally, we are valuing apprenticeships as a model. It is not just about who goes to a higher education institution, it is about who has the opportunity to progress to their own future career choice. We must give them those pathways as well as provid opportunities to move from one area to another. That is a big part of our job.

Deputy Conaghan made a general point about the arts in education. The Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and I have signed a charter between our Departments on the arts and their relationship to education. There are specific areas that we need to work on in that respect. I personally want to ensure that that happens because it is so invigorating. Such activity brings out a lot in young people. If they do not have an opportunity to engage with the arts, they are really missing out on a hugely important area of life.

This year, I have been able to provide extra funding for music generation. Recently I was in Portlaoise where, through the ETB, I met people working on music generation programmes. It is great to see young people getting an opportunity to learn to play musical instruments. The music in the classroom programme is also being strongly supported.

There is a film festival for schools called the FÍS Film Festival, and I recently attended the presentations thereon in the Helix. There is a lot going on, but what the Department really needs to do is to ensure no people are left out and that there are no schools that do not offer opportunities. Every time I visit a school, a choir sings or people play musical instruments as I enter, and there is art all over the walls. The work is being done, but our job is to ensure that it is co-ordinated-----