Ms Annette Dolan:

It is not having a negative impact on the education system but it is having a negative impact on the individuals concerned. The reality is when one speaks to teachers or lecturers on less than full hours, they are working extremely hard, night and day, to impress the employer so they will get more hours in the following year. The reality is it is having a very positive effect in terms of the quality of the education system but in terms of keeping those individuals within second level, further education or higher education, they will not last in the system. They will have to emigrate and look elsewhere for jobs. That is what is happening. There is a large cohort going to the United Kingdom, the Middle East, Canada and Australia seeking work. There is also a large cohort on less than full hours who must work elsewhere. The difficulty is although they may be on a third of a job, their hours are spread across the week. It is difficult for them to find alternative employment. One of the recommendations we seek is there must be a scheduling issue.