Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister and the Minister of State for joining us again today. It is very much appreciated. Much of the conversation has been about the south east, which is correct given what is happening there at the moment. There is much concern in that regard and it has been outlined very well by the previous speakers. When we met with THEA and other representatives last week we heard that funding remains a concern. I know the Minister has addressed that to an extent and said that he will come forward with plans. One of the concerns that has been alluded to is that we need more private investment. We also have a concern about the legislative ability of technological universities and institutes of technology to borrow.

I am concerned about how we protect the fundamental core values of technological universities and institutes of technology given the value they have. It is not just about providing opportunities in terms of jobs; it is also about the well-being of particular sections of society and of regions. I think in particular of Donegal and what that does for North-South co-operation. How does the Minister want to address both of those issues to ensure we do not look back in five years or at the end of the Government's term and say that we got the funding but ask whether we changed the very nature and core values of technological universities and institutes of technology?

The Minister also referred to the milestone of reaching 1,000 female apprentices. It could seem like something of a celebration when one looks at the number of women in apprenticeships, but in the programme for Government the target is a bare minimum of 10,000 a year. We are well off where we need to be and that is also the case in terms of the greening of the economy. When the education and training boards, ETBs, were before the committee, they spoke about how they were introducing sustainability and climate into every course. I will be checking to see if that is the case. I asked the same question of THEA last week. The approach seems to be on an institution-by-institution basis. What will the Minister do to ensure that it is not just apprenticeships or courses that have green in their title that look at climate, but that every young person who goes through a third level institute has a foundation in climate and biodiversity because that will be needed regardless of where people end up?