Ms Bríd O'Brien:

We probably have too many courses that run throughout the academic year. We are short of ones that are the type the Senator described, which can run on a needs or demand basis. We need more flexibility within the system. We need to get a better handle on what works and on what we need to do and where.

We are concerned, as are a good number of our affiliates, that much of the focus is on QQI level 5 and up, when an awful lot of people who are more distanced from the labour market are somewhere between QQI levels 1 and 4. It is about making sure, while the needs of the overall labour market have moved up, that we do not leave an entire group of people behind. In our efforts to become more modernised and to make sure people have the right skills and are adaptable, which is all very right and proper, we should not end up creating further exclusions. Working on levels QQI 1 to 4 is also very important.