Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the witnesses very much for their submissions. I am keen to ask some questions. My first question is for Mr. Peter Baldwin. Does he agree with the view that there is too much emphasis on academic courses? Does he think the institutes of technology have lost sight of the original purpose of providing well-trained technicians? Is academic education serving young people well?

My next question is for Mr. Parnell. It relates to Pathways to Work and the Action Plan for Jobs. What sectors of employment does he believe have been made available? What is the best strategy in working with his counterparts in Northern Ireland to deal with the question? Mr. Parnell highlighted significant projects involving two new enterprise centres in Omagh and Carrick-on-Shannon. What exactly do they entail? How did he go about the work? Did he work with the local authority or local groups? Have they been successful? One of the areas is part of my constituency, so I am being a little self-indulgent.

My next question is for Dr. Hughes. I am keen to hear more detail about the work commissioned jointly by the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy O'Sullivan, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, Mr. O'Dowd, to address educational underachievement. When is this work due to be completed? What outcome does Dr. Hughes anticipate? Will there be a plan of action based on the findings? What is the level of attainment for integrated schools vis-à-vissegregated and shared education schools?

My final question is for Ms Croskery. I was not aware that ERASMUS operated so effectively within the further education sector. Will she go into more detail about the programmes that operate on a North-South basis in the further education area? Is she involved in any shared degree courses with the Irish universities or further education institutes? I see considerable potential in this area, for example, with food science or other education areas or schools.