Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. Yes, that entrance examination, the leaving certificate equivalent if you like, can and will be a route into third level education. We have talked a lot about CAO reform and how there must be other pathways. The university system takes in many students through the mature student application route every year so it is not without precedent that there would be another entry route. This is one for Ukrainian students. It is what people want and expect us to do and it is the right thing to do.

The apprenticeship scheme is open to Ukrainians. I do not have data here and I am not sure we compile data but I will check. I have met Ukrainian students in colleges of further education doing apprenticeship courses and pre-apprenticeship courses. We very much need more apprentices. Anybody here in Ireland is very welcome to get involved and will be supported to do so. The ETBs will be instrumental in helping with that work. I will reflect and feed back what the Deputy said. The overwhelming number of people of adult age who have come here are female and I would be very surprised if the position was dramatically different in this age group. I will discuss and consider how we reach out to this group.