Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Yes, that is exactly right. We are at the table, as are all the other relevant Departments and the anchor for that discussion now is the Indecon report around the cost of disability and how we respond to that. Deputy Rabbitte will deliver the Government's response but we are all feeding into it.

In regard to part time courses, it is important that the Senator provided a balance to the conversation because we are all believers in part-time and flexible learning. We have to get this right and that is why it is important that Professor Collins who is doing this piece of work asks, "What do we mean by part time?" We instinctively know what we mean by it but that has to be translated into reality that absolutely can uphold standards and satisfy accreditation bodies. On the apprenticeship piece, a very good point is how we make sure the - this goes for all apprenticeships and in particular for people with a disability - apprenticeship converts into a job? There are two responses to that. The first is somewhat anecdotal, but we know in general with apprenticeships, because they are over a long period of time that a relationship builds up between the apprenticeship and an employer and very often results in a job because they get to know each other very well and work well together.

It is a significant period of time to spend together. Therefore, the translation rate for apprentices into jobs is quite good. One would imagine and expect that to extend to people with disabilities who are apprentices, of which there are about 600 in the country at the moment.

The second and meatier piece will be the equity of access committee for apprenticeships that we are setting up. It will be specifically looking at these sort of issues and reporting back with measures. As I suggested, I would be surprised if things such as additional bursaries and the likes are not an outcome of that.