Marie Louise O'Donnell (Independent)
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I thank the witnesses for their presentations. It is as if all these stakeholders are starting a new department of education. I enjoyed Mr. Sheridan's excellent, relevant study which locked right into the chief inspector's report. One of the most negative findings of the latter report was exactly what all these young people are saying in the summary about a lack of information about apprenticeships. In addition, they wanted more emphasis being applied at a younger age, understanding their careers properly and getting advice from experienced people. The chief inspector mentioned this as being a negative aspect in his own report on second level schooling.

I wish to ask a question of all the witnesses from City and Guilds, Aontas, ETBI, SOLAS and the bridge on the River Kwai, the QQI. I say that because it reminds me exactly who they are and because it was a great bridge. What is their big creative, practical or imaginative plan to challenge and counteract the caste system which has arisen between academic education, mar dhea, and vocational education? That is at the heart of what the witnesses are doing. I know the smaller aspects of it, but what is the big plan? I am appalled by the idea that we would think a caste system has developed between academic education, whatever that is, and vocational education.

I worked in a university up in Ballymun for 25 years, which challenged that in many ways. It did not come in with an academic plan, but with a plan for a flexible way that involved everyone in education.

Where are the representatives' associations in the development of these great apprenticeships? Germany has 384, England has 170, but we have 25 which are in constructions which are falling apart. We have developed other ones but what is their current status? It is all about lifelong development, so where are the groups represented here today in that development?

What is the witnesses' plan about challenging and counteracting this massive caste system, which is going nowhere? The Smurfit graduate business school in Blackrock, County Dublin, depends absolutely on the vocational aspect of its great masters. It is completely dependent on sending its students all over the world for experience when they come in with their great academic businesses. That is a major challenge, so I would like to hear what the plan is in that regard.