Mr. Pat Doherty:

I welcome the Minister and thank him for his contribution. I also welcome his colleagues, Ms Shaw and Mr. Andrews. My question relates to the disjoint between North and South in the area of education and how we might tackle it. Some weeks ago this committee heard presentations from delegates of three of the institutes of technology located along the Border, namely, Dundalk, Sligo and Letterkenny. I have been in contact with the delegates since then and they are anxious to pursue the matter, including by way of presentations to the relevant committees in the North. Their collective message, which also applies to the other colleges, is that their presence is almost invisible in the North. This is of particular note when one considers the demographics, which point to a fall in the number of 18 year olds in the North but a projected increase in the South. What potential has been identified in this regard and are efforts being made to enhance collaboration right across the island? I am aware that the Minister is a regular attendee at meetings of the North-South Ministerial Council. Are there sectoral meetings which he could attend with his counterpart in the South to tackle this problem and the other problems associated with it? Will he indicate what more could be done, as he sees it, to deal with this disjoint?