Gerard Craughwell (Independent)
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I wish to address something that Mr. Lavelle mentioned. I omitted to compliment the community education and adult education systems, which do a fantastic job in preparing people. Ms Hartley pointed out that SOLAS had yet to discover a matrix by which it could measure non-certified programmes. We all agree that, for a fair percentage of people, non-certified programmes lead on to certified programmes, so I am glad that SOLAS is considering the matter.

I hope that I heard Dr. Fields wrong. The impression I got was that research would determine what programmes would be funded and that, where a course that had been successful in attracting learners was not meeting the market needs of the economy, SOLAS might not fund it, having decided that it was no longer an appropriate course. The further education colleges in particular have worked on the basis that courses are constantly being born and dying. They would hold a course that was on its last legs while developing a new one. I hate to think that we might end up with statisticians deciding what will and will not run and that there might be abrupt ends to programmes.

Deputy McConalogue referred to a change in direction for an individual. I might have a PhD in something before suddenly deciding that there is no future for me in that area and choosing to do a FETAC level 5 course on boat building or welding. I appreciate Mr. Lavelle's point that this is probably not an issue for ETBs or SOLAS, only the Department of Social Protection, but it is terrible to see obstacles for someone who wants to change his or her life's direction. God knows I have changed mine eight times, but I would never have managed it if the current obstacles had existed then. We must jointly find a way around this problem.