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

On the promotion of apprenticeships, training and so on, while I do not want to stray into the remit of the Department of Education and Skills, our Department tries to engage with companies through Enterprise Ireland, Science Foundation Ireland, SFI, and so on to beat the band and get them interested in making proposals. We also facilitate a range of meetings that bring our stakeholders together to encourage them to become involved in the process. SFI was involved in many school programmes, for example, apprenticeships and various other schemes, to push the STEM agenda. Enterprise Ireland is trying to get the message out. I have attended hundreds of meetings this year alone trying to get the word out about considering apprenticeships and other new ways. Apprenticeships have always been there, but a new range is on offer. I ask that the committee become involved in this work. We must get the message out both to companies in order that they become involved and to the young people who are coming through school. We have programmes under way in schools. The main message is to parents, namely, that this is a viable way of developing a career that is often more financially rewarding than others even though those routes of education are just as good. Do not get me wrong - this is not just an issue of higher education versus further education and training. It is about the blend of the two. If we get that right, we will be able to supply the skills our enterprises need while providing complete educations. We do this through our agencies.

The key element is our regional action plan for jobs, which we are trying to push out and develop at each level. This involves bringing all the State agencies, local communities, businesses and chambers of commerce together. We do this in order that the relevant players talk regularly and formulate plans. From this, the skills agenda gets a fair discussion. We must get the message out. Those involved in guidance have got it. I attend many of their conferences and they know the importance of further education, training, post-leaving certificate courses and so on as other options.

May I be a bit rude? I flagged a difficulty in that I am supposed to be somewhere else talking with a bunch of researchers and investors. They have gone ahead of schedule, so I will need to leave in a couple of minutes. I do not want to be rude to the Minister either, but are there specific questions on programme B that need to be answered now? This is the formal meeting, but I would be happy to return for additional conversations.