Mr. Fergal Costello:

There are areas such as medical devices and ICT, which are obvious examples and could well do with an apprenticeship. However, the purpose of the proposal process is to invite employers, in particular, to come back in and state their needs. The report stated that for this to work there has to be a strong employer commitment because they are ultimately the main drivers of apprenticeship. If one does not have employers who are willing to let some of their staff undergo training two days per week or six weeks per year, the system will not work. Therefore we need a partnership of employers and the education sector to deliver those. The HEA is certainly right behind the idea of broadening it and bringing in more occupations and professions.