Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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I have a number of points to make. It is an ambitious programme and, with any ambitious programme, there is a need for not only for a shift in terms of people's attitudes, but for investment. One of the investments, for instance, deals with the requirements of business and the STEM subjects if we are to provide the best possible opportunity and education for those who are availing of courses. Are the witnesses confident that the resources are there? What are the resources required to bring all of the centres and courses, in particular, the STEM courses, that have been identified up to a level comparable with international standards? That is in terms of resources for labs and so on.

There is also a resource issue in terms of teachers. Deputy McConalogue mentioned the PLCs. There has been a drop-off in numbers because of the pupil-teacher ratio. If we are to deliver the best possible opportunity, there is a requirement that classes are not too full and that those being trained or taught get the best possible outcome from the course of which they are availing rather than being in overloaded classes, which is a factor in the rest of the education system. What is happening in relation to delivering courses, which are not oversubscribed? I know of some colleges which have taken on extra pupils over and above the numbers required to ensure that the colleges can survive.

I refer to the change from FÁS centres to education and training board centres. I do not think utilisation of many of the centres is at its fullest. We have centres which have fully fitted out training rooms for electricians, plumbers and so on. I tabled parliamentary questions recently and found some have been vacant for a long time. One of the questions I asked was about a course I was promised was due to start, which leads me on to a follow up question. Will the courses be delivered by directly employed trainers from the ETBs or will they be subcontracted out? There is a danger that a course could be subcontracted out to an organisation which is for profit rather than for education and that there would be difference in the ethos and possibly the outcome.

The question of the move towards working all year round would be a major one for Dr. Rigney, who represents ICTU, which would include the TUI and other unions. What is the current position? Have there been negotiations with the unions, the teachers and the trainers or is it just one of those ideas put out which, all of a sudden, ends up on top of us very quickly without the background work being done? It would be a huge change for some teachers, although others are trainers and work all year round anyway. If we amalgamate both sectors, there will be major difficulties, including human resource difficulties, union difficulties and difficulties for people who have had a different holiday arrangements, etc., and who would have to change their lives to cater for children and so on. Is that an issue currently or is it just one of those things that is in the strategy?