Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We absolutely need specialist teachers because teachers do so much to motivate and influence students.

I will raise a couple more points. The first relates to the STEM route and more apprenticeships and craft working. Our guests are probably well aware that there are now far more opportunities for people to go on to third level. We have a kind of hangover, compared with places such as Germany, whereby apprenticeships are seen as a lower opportunity. They are seen as more for manual labour. College, no matter what you do and what degree you get, is seen as a better path, which it absolutely is not if we look at earnings in the economy at present and where apprenticeships can bring people, particularly with onward education. In respect of integrating with industry, our guests have highlighted the low number of apprenticeship programmes available. What can we do to try to stimulate people to understand there is a pathway here and apprenticeships can bring them into very successful careers and provide expansive job opportunities?