Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Conaghan. He taught me well in his couple of years here. He always raises the wider view on what we are trying to achieve. To add to what the Minister said about the further education and training sector, we recognise very strongly the sector's importance and the fact that it must become a major pillar of our education system. We are spending over €800 million in the sector, so any issues that arise are not because of a lack of money; it is a question of people's perception. During the boom years, people turned their backs on further education and training, for whatever reason. There has been much reform in the sector, and much is delivered in it. The sector has given very many people the opportunity to engage in further education and training, right up to master's level and beyond, and develop a career path. There are great opportunities. There is a need for more crossover between the further education and training sector and the higher education sector. If we are to address the skills shortage, it will be done through the two sectors equally, and through a combination of both. We face a skills problem and a mismatch of talents regarding the jobs we are to have this year, next year and later as we recover. Therefore, the talent drive identified in the Action Plan for Jobs demonstrates that it is necessary to up the game in the further education and training sector and the higher education sector. There is no doubt about that.

One of the main parts of the five-year strategy that SOLAS has produced concerns the standing of further education and training. Both the Minister and I are part of this and are going to try to address it. What the sector is doing and the services it provides need proper recognition.