Acting Chairman (Deputy Frank Feighan):

We will continue our consideration of cross-Border co-operation in education. Representatives of St. Angela's College, Sligo, and the University of Ulster who have agreed a memorandum of understanding will make presentations. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Anne Taheny, president; Mr. Eugene Toolan, head of education, and Ms Amanda McCloat, head of home economics, St. Angela's College; and Professor Linda Clarke, head of the school of education, University of Ulster. Before I call the first delegate, I advise that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of utterances at this committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease making remarks on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their remarks. They are directed that only cognisant evidence on the subject matter of this meeting is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House of the Oireachtas, a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Dr. Taheny to make her opening statement.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

I thank the Chairman and members for giving me the opportunity to present to the committee. It is wholly appropriate that both institutions are jointly represented as a tangible expression to the committee of our joint efforts at collaboration which we will together outline. Our presentation is organised in the following manner: policy context for collaboration in teacher education between St. Angela's College and the school of education, University of Ulster; strategic cross-Border relationship between St. Angela’s College and the school of education, University of Ulster; memorandum of understanding between the two institutions; and our conclusions.

I will, first, address the policy context for collaboration in teacher education between St. Angela's College and the school of education, University of Ulster. The committee will be fully au fait with the importance of cross-Border co-operation across a range of sectors - economic, trade, tourism, health, employment, regional development and, of course, education. Education is identified in the Good Friday Agreement as a key area for North-South co-operation. This is reflected in the North-South Ministerial Council's agreement to progress educational themes, including special educational needs, educational under-achievement and teacher education. We will address the latter theme, in particular.

The Minister for Education and Skills, supported by his Department, and the Northern Ireland Minister for Education, John O’ Dowd, and the Minister for Employment and Learning, Dr. Stephen Farry, and their officials, are positive in their commitment to strengthen and develop cross-Border initiatives in education. The Minister for Education and Skills in his recent address to the committee, in the context of Northern Ireland’s success in the progress in international reading literacy study, PIRLS, indicated that there was a real opportunity for learning and co-operation in the area of literacy. In his opening address to the recent conference on the professional identity of teacher educators in Dublin Castle the Northern Ireland Minister for Education indicated his commitment to the further development of cross-Border co-operation on educational issues. He highlighted, in particular, the importance of continuing professional development, CPD, for teachers and ongoing development of school leaders.

The current higher education strategy for Northern Ireland entitled, Graduating to Success, encourages higher education providers to collaborate on an all-island basis on teaching and learning. Specifically, it stresses that higher education providers should strive to "facilitate student flows between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; to minimise the obstacles to Cross Border undergraduate mobility and to collaborate on an all-island basis on teaching and learning". Similarly, in this jurisdiction the national strategy for higher education to 2030 states there is "significant potential for institutional collaboration on a North-South basis to advance Cross Border regional development and strategically advance Irish higher education on an all-island basis". Graduating to Success also outlines the intent to support such cross-Border collaboration, particularly where it is "geographically advantageous to do so and where there are benefits for the institutions involved and for students". Furthermore, the recent report of the international review panel on the structure of initial teacher education provision in Ireland stresses the importance of investment in the continuous improvement of the quality of teaching, the role of research in teacher education and international co-operation in all of its teacher education institutions.

The current strategic plan for St. Angela's College aims to establish key partnerships and engage in strategic collaborations with other educational institutions. The plan specifically highlights the importance of establishing partnerships with cross-Border institutions. The school of education, University of Ulster is also committed to the establishment of collaborations and partnerships with other institutions and organisations locally, nationally and internationally as part of its corporate plan. The parties present are succeeding in operationalising a framework for collaborative teaching, learning and research in teacher education on an all-island basis. Both institutions are translating these political objectives into specific operational aims, strategies and plans relevant to their respective teaching and student bodies. We do so for a number of key reasons: to strengthen teaching, learning and research within and between both institutions; to benefit our students and enhance student learning; and to strengthen and build regional and cross-Border development.

I would like to stress the importance to St Angela's College, in particular, of positive regional development. The strategic significance of the location of the college in the north west for the past 60 years, with its established and emerging cross-Border co-operation and potential for undergraduate mobility, places the college in a unique position in this jurisdiction. Furthermore, it is the only indigenous higher education institution providing initial teacher education, ITE, and CPD programmes for teachers in a Border county. Similarly, the school of education, University of Ulster is fully committed to supporting and engaging in cross-Border collaboration in the areas of ITE and CPD.

Professor Linda Clarke:

I will refer to the strategic cross-Border relationship between St. Angela’s College and the school of education, University of Ulster. The two institutions have engaged in significant formal and informal collaboration in respect of both teaching and research at an individual academic and institutional level throughout the past two decades. Collaborative work has taken place in the area of ITE of religious education teachers. In the mid-1990s St Angela’s College, through funding from the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, formed a partnership with the school of education. This project involved student teachers from both institutions and promoted dialogue, understanding and reconciliation between educators from the Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions within Ireland.

In 2005 the two institutions were key partners in the establishment of a cross-Border collaborative initiative funded under the European Programme for Peace and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border region of Ireland - Peace II. The purpose of the initiative was to enable teachers, educational psychologists and other professionals from the Border counties to build on peace and stability by coming together and exchanging experiences and models of best practice. Arising from this, these participants formed three North-South cluster groups and based their joint programmes of work in the key areas of autism, dyslexia and marginalised youth. Academic staff members in the special educational needs team at St. Angela's College and colleagues from the school of education were involved in the steering committee for this project and in all three cluster groups.

The project has proved to be a worthwhile example of a shared vision, collaboration and partnership. Through its forum for mutual sharing of experience and expertise, useful resource packs were produced for schools in each of the three key areas.

Both institutions have been active members and participants in the Standing Conference of Teacher Education North and South, SCoTENS, since its foundation in 2002. Through participation in a number of SCoTENS funded research projects, the college and the school of education at the University of Ulster have developed research projects aimed at sharing good practice and developing strategies in teaching and learning on an all-island basis. These links facilitate a research informed approach to aspects of teacher education and the potential for future research projects with a larger critical mass of expertise.

The institutions share the common unique specialism of teacher education for home economics. St. Angela’s College is the sole provider of home economics teacher education in the South of Ireland and the school of education in the University of Ulster is the sole provider of the PGCE in home economics education in Northern Ireland. Through cross-Border collaboration between home economists in both institutions, a funded SCoTENS all-island research project on primary school teachers’ experiences of teaching about healthy eating as part of the curriculum was conducted and published in 2012. Furthermore, initial discussions are under way to progress staff and student exchanges and research initiatives in the areas of home economics education, diet, health and well-being and culinary skills.

St. Angela’s College and the school of education at the University of Ulster are taking a major step forward in the promotion of cross-Border collaboration by formalising their relationship for future strategic developments. We are pleased to advise the committee that we have signed a memorandum of understanding which establishes a framework for a cross-Border collaborative teaching, learning and research relationship between both institutions. Specifically, the outputs of this agreement may include establishing funding to support student and staff mobility programmes for student teachers and teacher educators; enhanced shared delivery of programmes in initial teacher education; and development of a strategic programme of collaborative research and dissemination of findings in teacher education in both institutions.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

It would be remiss of us not to seek the assistance, guidance and advice of the committee in our efforts to obtain additional funding for these flagship cross-Border initiatives. We are fully aware of the extreme budgetary pressures impacting on Government expenditure. We are subject to such pressures and associated challenges on a daily basis. Cognisant of the committee’s overarching remit regarding the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement as it pertains to education, we would welcome any advice and assistance it may offer in this area.

The commitment to continue to progress closer collaboration between St. Angela’s College, Sligo and the school of education at the University of Ulster will facilitate greater understanding and sharing of expertise and afford further access for practitioners in the region. Through this collaboration, it is possible to progress educational and research opportunities in teacher education in the region and on an all-island basis. I acknowledge the significant effort my colleagues in the school of education at the University of Ulster and St. Angela’s College have put in to promoting and progressing the initiatives we have outlined, to which both institutions are fully committed. It would be encouraging were our joint efforts to receive the endorsement of the committee in respect of the cross-Border collaboration to which both institutions are committed.

Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I welcome the representatives of St. Angela's College and the University of Ulster. When representatives of St. Angela's College previously appeared before the committee, they put a strong case to it for the retention and enhancement of home economics in the college. Has that matter been resolved?

Dr. Anne Taheny:

I am happy to report that there was a positive conclusion to the matter.

Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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Did Dr. Taheny find the support she had received from elected representatives of all parties to be helpful?

Dr. Anne Taheny:

We found it most helpfu. I take the opportunity to thank all of our colleagues in the north west who came out to support us on an all-party basis.

Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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I am delighted that the subject will be retained and that such support was offered. It is a fantastic college and its record in home economics is second to none, not only in Ireland but also further afield.

I have been reading the various reports from the HSE on cross-Border links. They remind me of the story of Hugh de Lacy asking Henry II how much land he could have in Ireland and being told he could have as much as he was able to conquer for himself. These cross-Border links need funding and support. How can we help specifically with funding and who can we lobby? The committee has good moral authority when we communicate on these issues.

How have the colleges found the experience of collaborating? My former school was involved in a link with a school in Markethill. On one occasion teachers from both schools were sitting down together with an inspector from Belfast in attendance. The inspector said she was doubtful about the project until she overheard the teachers having a chat. Sometimes the gaps between sentences contain the meaning. Have the delegates found the experience useful in terms of strategies for teaching and learning and comparing notes? Dundalk Institute of Technology and DCU have drawn up a memorandum of understanding which is leading to shared degrees and other research links. Where do the delegates see the memorandum of understanding between their institutions proceeding?

Seán Conlan (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Clearly, research outputs are very important in the higher education sector. What possibilities are there for the strengthening of collaborative research between the two partners and what role might SCoTENS play in this regard?

My second question concerns the Border region in general. Senator Jim D'Arcy referred to the link between Dundalk Institute of Technology and DCU. What cross-Border links could be developed to benefit students on both sides of the Border? I come from County Monaghan which lacked a third level campus until the VEC recently developed one. We are seeking to develop linkages with universities across the Border because it is important that students in the region, whether from Fermanagh, Monaghan, Cavan or Armagh, are served by a university. We need an outreach programme from Queen's University Belfast or the University of Ulster. I am interested in hearing the delegates ideas on how we can develop cross-Border linkages.

Senator Jim D'Arcy raised the point. In practical terms, is it the Minister for Education and Skills whom we must invite before the committee so that we can ask him how we can further develop cross-Border relationships in the education sphere? Would that be a possibility?

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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I warmly welcome the delegates, particularly Professor Linda Clarke of the University of Ulster. They all are welcome to Leinster House.

Deputy Crowe extends his apologies. He cannot attend today. The truth is that I asked him whether I could come in his place because this is a special day for me and for those in the area I represent. I am so proud to be here today. It is an important day. I am so proud of St. Angela's College, its work, staff and students.

Undoubtedly, with regard to North-South co-operation, there continues to be distrust between individuals and between communities, and, hopefully, we are working our way through that. It is less well recognised that there is institutional or organisational distrust. Perhaps it is more self-interest, with every institution and organisation jealously guarding its budget in these tight financial times. If we are to make a serious inroad in North-South co-operation, we need to be breaking through those walls of self-interest and distrust. What has been described today is exactly that. The winners from the memorandum of understanding presented to the committee today will be their students and those whom their students will teach.

I also hold the view that there are two borders in Ireland, not only the one between the Six Counties and the Twenty-six Counties. If one looks at an infrastructural map of the island of Ireland, there is an east-west border as well. This memorandum of understanding is redressing some of the imbalance towards the west coast as well. It is a wonderful example of co-operation. I am most familiar with St. Angela's College. Any committee member who has not been to St. Angela's should visit it. It sits on the shores of Lough Gill and one will not see a more wonderful location for a college anywhere in Ireland or in any other country.

Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael)
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Can I stay overnight with Deputy Colreavy?

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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The Senator would be more than welcome and he would not have to put his hand in his pocket. I would encourage members to visit.

I am also aware of the high reputation of the University of Ulster. I believe that both institutions' reputations will be enhanced by this development. I hope it provides a model for other developments in the future, not only in the sphere of education. I have two specific questions.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Would it be possible to let Senator White contribute for a minute and then we will return to Deputy Colreavy's questions?

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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Sure.

Mary White (Fianna Fail)
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It has been a great pleasure to listen to Dr. Taheny and Professor Clarke. This issue and that of North-South collaboration are dear to all of our hearts. I compliment Dr. Taheny on the evolution of St. Angela's. The two colleges share a unique specialisation in home economics and advancing into the important modern area of diet, health and well-being. I attended a superb presentation by the Alzheimer's Society on how important all of these issues are in preventing the onset of Alzheimer's disease. I encourage them both in their continuous collaboration in the north west and commend them on signing a memorandum of understanding. Gabh mo leiscéal. I must vote and speak in the Seanad.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy Colreavy for accommodating Senator White.

Michael Colreavy (Sligo-North Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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It was my pleasure.

I have two questions. Dr. Taheny stated she would welcome any advice and assistance that the committee may offer in dealing with the financial pressures and challenges caused by enhanced co-operation. No doubt the committee will use its every influence with the Minister but if there are specific projects within the memorandum of understanding that they can document and put forward, that might be a good way to leverage funding and support for it. For example, I am aware that St. Angela's offers Irish as an elective subject. Are there possibilities of student exchanges between the Irish departments in both colleges, North and South? That might be one such venture. There may be others in which they would be interested. As I stated, it has been a great privilege to be here today and I am very proud.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

I will start the ball rolling. We will probably share the answers to some of the questions across the group.

I thank Senator D'Arcy for his positive comments on St. Angela's College and our reputation for home economics teacher education. I can affirm for the committee that not only do we have a national reputation, we also have an international reputation for our home economics teacher education.

On funding, as I mentioned earlier, we certainly would welcome the advice of the committee as to how best to move forward in terms of being able to access funding. In the initial stages, the committee might be willing to write to the Ministers in both jurisdictions to alert them to this new area of collaboration that has developed between our institutions and to encourage them to look at providing funding towards this type of collaboration, which will hopefully continue to develop - there will be more examples in the future between other institutions. I would like to think that in some ways we are pioneering something that could develop between other institutions, north and south of the Border.

To date, our experience of working together has been excellent. Much of it is down to the key personnel who are working together. I think it always does come down to people at the end of the day. There is an excellent working relationship between the school of education in the University of Ulster and my two colleagues here, the head of home economics and the head of education, and they are the key drivers of this collaboration. Through the various deliberations they have had to date, they have had discussions on many positive ideas that could emanate from this collaboration, and perhaps they might speak on some of those specifics. The potential through this type of collaboration for the sharing of academic expertise to the benefit of our institutions, and, more particularly, to the benefit of our students, is enormous. Do any of my colleagues want to contribute at this point?

Mr. Eugene Toolan:

Perhaps I could take up Senator D'Arcy's question on where the MPU goes from here. It is noteworthy that the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Quinn, in a recent letter to the HEA regarding its advice to the him on system governance, stressed that there is significant potential for institutional collaboration on a North-South basis to advance cross-Border regional development and strategically advance Irish higher education on an all-island basis.

This particular memorandum of understanding has highlighted three aspects that we particularly want to explore. There may be others in the future. The three are student and staff mobility, the shared delivery of programmes in initial teacher education, and a strategic programme of collaborative research and dissemination. On student and staff mobility, some possible models are being explored by the heads of departments in St. Angela's and the head of the school of education and colleagues in the University of Ulster. The initiatives are in their infancy but the possibilities of summer schools and exchanges during term time, where student teachers can participate in mutually acceptable modules or sub-modules and even accumulate European credit-transfer system credits, are being explored. It is also envisaged that an action plan will be established to make progress on these initiatives, including project development, implementation of the initiatives and evaluation of the initiatives. Obviously, funding will be helpful in progressing these.

We expect that the work we do and the exchanges can be modelled on the excellent work that is already being done under the SCoTENS initiative.

Regarding the shared delivery of programmes in initial teacher education, as members have heard, there are a number of areas of similarity of provision where collaboration can be of mutual benefit to both institutions, including, predictably, in home economics which is the specialism both institutions have but also in the areas of religious education, and Gaeilge at initial teacher education level, as Deputy Colreavy mentioned. We also have common interests in the area of special educational needs through the centre for special educational needs, inclusions and diversity at St. Angela's College and the work that is being done in the area of special educational needs in the University of Ulster. Leadership management at postgraduate MA level is another area we can develop. We are examining the possibility of using modern technology such as video conferencing, virtual learning environments and so on in the delivery of joint programmes.

Regarding the memorandum of understanding, in terms of the strategic programme of collaborative research and dissemination we are proposing, we expect personnel from both institutions will jointly identify areas of research and mutual interest to benefit students and staff, joint bids will be put together to endeavour to secure funding, whether it be through SCoTENS or other sources on which we will be open to advice, and seminars will be held on a rotational basis to facilitate dissemination of findings.

I can deal with the Gaeilge question raised by Deputy Colreavy if that is in order.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Yes.

Mr. Eugene Toolan:

Gaeilge has been offered on the B.Ed concurrent degree programme in St. Angela's College since 2004. Our graduates are highly sought after and they are qualified to teach Gaeilge to leaving certificate standard and they are employed in secondary school and Gaelcholáistí throughout Ireland. It makes perfect sense to explore collaboration in this area in terms of student staff exchange, sharing of resources, expertise and research because Gaeilge is also delivered in initial teacher education at the school of education in the University of Ulster. For example, it is a requirement that student teachers who are preparing to teach Irish in the South have to spend some time in the Gaeltacht and there is a possibility of exploring joint periods in the Gaeltacht for students, North and South.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

I will ask Professor Linda Clarke to respond to the question on research possibilities and projects. We have experience already in jointly delivering on a number of research projects under the SCoTENS funding. I will ask Professor Clarke to elaborate further on that.

Professor Linda Clarke:

I have the honour of being the northern chair of SCoTENS and it has just had its eight year evaluation from Professor John Furlong of the University of Oxford who produced a report that was highly complimentary about the work of SCoTENS in building collaborative research partnerships between teacher educators throughout Ireland and, as he put it, establishing links which can be built to develop the peace process through allowing colleagues to communicate with each other and build up collaborative partnerships. He pointed out both areas, the collaborations around research and the communication on both sides of the Border with people who would not normally necessarily have worked together in the past. SCoTENS has been a great success in terms of cross-Border communication around research. We would like to build on the strengths of SCoTENS and build collaborative projects and build capacity for research because capacity building research can be very complex to establish. A further important area is building the dissemination process because it is no good if we as researchers conduct the research and keep the findings to ourselves; the findings need to be disseminated both within Ireland and further afield in order that we build international reputations in research. If our appearance here today can further establish research and research funding on an all-Ireland basis, that would be very helpful to institutions across all the areas of interest that we described.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

I will comment briefly and answer some of the issues raised by Deputy Colreavy. He has made some very valid points in terms of the changing era in higher education on both sides of the Border. We are now at the stage where there is a realisation that stand-alone institutions are no longer going to be the order of the day as we move forward and that we will all be looking at new ways of doing things and certainly new ways of exploring the sharing of resources to the mutual benefit of collaborating institutions. The Deputy's points were very valid. We have answered his point on the Gaeilge issue.

Returning to the issue of funding, if and when we have specific projects, we will be more than happy to bring those back to this committee and if there are opportunities to seek its advice on how to move forward with them, we will be more than happy to do that.

Senator White has left the room but I want to thank her for her positive comments about St. Angela's College and the University of Ulster.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome the representatives of both institutions. We spend a good deal of time trying to find ways to bring about situations where people can work together and it is very encouraging that the two institutions represented are signing a memorandum of understanding and are well on the way to creating the type of co-operation and collaboration that we as a committee are about. I wish them well. I have never seen Deputy Colreavy so happy; they should come here more often. He is a proud man today because all week he had been telling me and everybody else who was prepared to listen that we had to be here and rightly so. Fair play to him.

The three areas the representatives mentioned of staff mobility, sharing and research and development and collaborative programmes in research is an excellent way to go about this process. We all share support for this project and its vision. The representatives mentioned that funding could become a problem but she also said that there is good co-operation between both jurisdictions and both Ministers in regard to the funding aspect. I hope they will use this committee at any time they need to in the future. If funding is necessitated for any type of a project, we will put our shoulder to the wheel and try to deliver it as part of the implementation of the wider remit of this committee.

What are the next steps? Will the representatives of the University of Ulster outline any similar work it is doing with other institutions on cross-Border co-operation in education or on an all-Ireland basis? There is no doubt in my mind that as we break down barriers many of those barriers were perceptions in people's minds and in the minds of those in different communities. As we break them down, we open up a whole new world of co-operation and collaboration. That has a huge role to play in education and education can be to the forefront in creating that type of co-operation as we move forward. I wish the representatives well and thank them for coming here. Hopefully, everything they are attempting to do will come about and will be much bigger and better as we move forward.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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I thank the representatives from the two colleges for their presentations. Can the representatives outline what applications they have made for funding to date on the basis of cross-Border collaboration? Can they indicate if they have they applied for funding under the PEACE or INTERREG funding streams to give us an idea of what they have done or what investigations they have made in the area?

Ms Michelle Gildernew:

I add my welcome to all the representatives. Their presentations have been very interesting. Dr. Anne Taheny used the word "pioneering" at the start of her contribution. That is what we need to see, a few pioneering people with vision who can make things happen. I was very glad to hear all of the work and the collaboration that is ongoing between the two institutions.

Like Deputy Tuffy who mentioned collaborative research and innovation, I was going to ask about the Seventh Framework Programme and whether any approaches had been made to the European Union for such funding. To that end it may be useful to approach Ms Colette Fitzgerald who heads up the European Commission office in Belfast and who would certainly point one in the right direction. The acting chairman did not mention at the beginning the three Ministers for education with whom the committee is involved - Deputy Ruairí Quinn, Mr. John O'Dowd and Mr. Stephen Farry and their officials. Sometimes there is resistance to collaboration and cross-Border working. While all the Ministers appear to be enthusiastic about it there are other areas where your pioneering work could help to remove some of the barriers, for example, in post-primary education, particularly St. Mary's and a school in Clones where those two areas would like to engage in better collaboration and removing some barriers which you seem to have successfully managed. I also want to add my comments to those of Deputy Martin Ferris.If any further assistance is required in terms of funding please write to or engage with this committee. I advise the committee to keep up the good work and hopefully that will filter down to other areas. Until we get proper cross-Border co-operation, our children are missing out along the Border and our families are missing opportunities they might otherwise have. We will see a situation where children are travelling long distances to avail of education that is available beside them. I thank the witnesses for the time they have taken to come here today.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Does any other member wish to make a contribution and ask a question? I wish to ask a few questions but first I congratulate St. Angela's College on its 60th anniversary. The witnesses have clearly outlined new Border initiatives within teacher education. However, St. Angela's College is also recognised for its excellent achievements in nurse education. Is there any likelihood of developing cross-Border collaboration in this area with the University of Ulster? Given obesity levels on the island of Ireland, home economics education has never been more timely. My understanding is that home economics education is mandatory for all second level students in the North. What needs to be done to ensure access for all students on the island of Ireland to home economics education? It is commendable that the memorandum of understanding has been signed by both HEIs. However, it is often the case that policy agreements of this nature take some time to be implemented. Have the delegates got specific examples of how the initiatives they have mentioned will operate in practice?

Professor Linda Clarke:

I shall address the earlier questions raised by Deputy Martin Ferris. In terms of links with other institutions on both sides of the Border we have links through SCoTENS to other institutions and quite often those projects which have to have Northern and Southern partners will have partners from more than one institution. Therefore, we do have links. I would say that some of our long-standing links have been around home economics with St. Angela's College and other areas of its work. We do have other links and we would seek to enhance links throughout and across this island. We have also got considerable quality assurance links because universities provide quality assurance for each other's courses via the external examiner system. Those are very important in relation to teaching and the quality of teaching and ensuring that quality is maintained.

I wish to address Deputy Seán Conlan's question in relation to links in Monaghan, if we may change counties for a moment. We have links to Monaghan Education Centre where we deliver a part of our masters in education as an out centre and further afield to Athlone, particularly in the area of leadership but we would like to enhance that. We are looking at developing work around TESOL, teaching English to speakers of other languages, in particular, but there are other areas also that we would like to develop with Monaghan and Athlone.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

Perhaps I can follow on to respond to the questions from Deputy Tuffy in respect of our application for funding to date. The main source we have used has been SCoTENS seed funding for smaller projects. As outlined in our earlier presentation we would have availed of PEACE funding and also the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation for projects already completed. We will continue to make application through the various bodies. However, what we are seeking is a broader commitment from the Ministers in both jurisdictions. If this is a project to which both are committed, perhaps they would potentially consider a stream of funding for the development of such cross-Border collaborations as we are presenting today.

Professor Linda Clarke:

I thank Ms Gildernew for her comments in relation to our work and the encouragement around contacts for seventh framework research projects which, of course, require a huge hinterland to develop them because they tend to be very complex. I am delighted by her encouragement that we work to develop that hinterland. It is great to hear that.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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There was a question on obesity.

Ms Amanda McCloat:

Deputy Frank Feighan has correctly identified that obesity is on the increase on the island of Ireland. Currently, 70% of men and 52% of women are overweight or obese on the island which is a significant cost, estimated to be in the region of €1.64 billion annually. As the Deputy correctly outlined, home economics as a subject on the curriculum is mandatory for all students up to key stage 3 in Northern Ireland. This is not unusual on the international front given that in countries such as Iceland, Finland and Japan home economics is also compulsory up to a similar age group. Unfortunately, in Ireland, home economics is still an optional subject and yet institutions such as the World Health Organization would show that mandatory food education and nutrition education is extremely important for young people as a key health promotion strategy. In Ireland, home economics is on the curriculum. It is an established subject and, therefore, making it mandatory would help alleviate some of the issues around the lack of culinary skills and the lack of nutrition education which we are witnessing in our young people.

Dr. Anne Taheny:

Perhaps I could address the question on nurse education and its potential. I am happy to report that preliminary discussions are already under way between the heads of the schools of nursing both in St. Angela's College and in the University of Ulster. The memorandum of understanding as outlined earlier is step one in regard to what can develop into a much greater collaboration between our two institutions. We are paving the way for future development of collaborations across a number of areas, including nurse education.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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On the question of the funding stream, has an application been made for PEACE IV funding?

Professor Linda Clarke:

No, we have not made an application to date.

Mr. Eugene Toolan:

It may be important to point out that up to now the work that we have done together has been at individual level to a certain extent and individual personnel have worked on individual research projects and so on. The memorandum of understanding firms up on that work. It is a new initiative in one sense, so it is a new beginning. We have got great advice so far from members of the committee. Whatever support we an get in relation to how we can move is important. We have got an imprimatur from the committee today and that is very important for us as we progress with this new initiative which is a more formal arrangement between the two institutions.

Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the committee I thank Dr. Anne Taheny, Mr. Eugene Tolan, Ms Amanda McCloat and Professor Linda Clarke for meeting the committee and for the helpful and informative engagement with the committee. We look forward, as a committee, to working with the delegates to try to achieve their goals which will be useful and helpful in the future. I suspend the committee to allow the next witnesses to take their seats.