Mr. Andrew Brownlee:

I picked up three themes in the questions in the context of green skills, the uptake of apprenticeships and the employer angle. If there is one message I want to get across, it is that parity of esteem is critical not only to apprenticeships but to further education and training, in which there is a really exciting offering in the form of the post-leaving certificate provision and traineeships. We launched a major campaign last week that attracted a lot of traction and interest. Building recognition that there are lots of further education and training options for young people and adult learners is the way to build parity of esteem regarding apprenticeships. This links to the question on green skills. Dr. Trant will talk about what we are doing in terms of developing curricula in apprenticeships to meet green skills. There are a lot of FET courses which focus on green and sustainable skills. The nearly zero-energy buildings, NZEBs, initiative is led by Waterford and Wexford Education and Training Board. We are hoping to mainstream it across the country. It is about developing skills in retrofitting buildings and such things. It is a massive opportunity for FET and apprenticeships can develop a bit of a competitive advantage by way of employers' needs and the wider sustainability agenda.