Ms Ann Campbell:

To add briefly to Professor Cunnane's contribution, the Chairman asked how we would expand on access. All of us have relationships with our local education and training providers and with the local further education, FE, providers in the region. We have set up cluster networks as local networks as well. In my case, we have the North East Further and Higher Education Alliance. We meet and work in partnership with individual FE institutions and establish pathways so that students can perhaps complete level 5 or level 6 at the local FE institution and then move on to higher education. We also deliver outreach programmes and provide distance learning. For example, people can stay in their local area in Monaghan and do a business degree. We are also looking for routes and partnerships we can build on to expand this access. It is so important that not only do students have the opportunity to study in the regions but that they can stay in the regions afterwards.