Mr. Tom Boland:

A key requirement of the higher education system is to liaise closely with the economy, business and enterprise and, increasingly, institutions are doing so. This is without any dilution of the broader mission of education as we all understand it. It is very evident that a significant factor in attracting foreign direct investment to the country is the availability of skilled graduates. The institution in Sligo is a particularly good example of an institution that works very well locally and nationally in identifying skills needs.