Mr. Peter Davitt:

I will respond to Deputy Naughton's point on blockages. Within the tech sector in particular it is a very complex issue because they are so many stereotypical misnomers. We hear that to have a career in the tech sector, one must have a degree or a master's degree and one must have STEM subjects to even enter into the sector. That is a deterrent for may people, both female and male. For me there is a much bigger issue here. We have an obsession that our children must go to third level education and if one does not take the route of third level, one is a second-class citizen in some respects in terms of accessing training.

From my perspective, a level 6 FET is the forgotten certificate award. A level 6 award is above an honours leaving certificate. It is equivalent to a diploma or an advanced certificate. If one builds a curriculum to that standard with the right content, the demand for those with that qualification across industry is phenomenal. We undertook a number of skills audits because my board is comprised of major tech companies in Ireland. Why are they engaged with FIT? They engage with FIT in terms of accessing skills. We had to go out to ask employers what skills they wanted. In the early days, the employers wanted employees with degrees and masters, but when we were able to show them what could be delivered through a level 5 programme and what could be delivered through a level 6 programme, the scales fell off their eyes to the extent that as the tech sector is buoyant and growing, there are job opportunities for many more than those who perceive themselves as having roles in the tech sector. The interesting thing is there is a growing awareness within the tech sector that unless it diversifies its recruitment pipelines, it will struggle in the future. There is a genuine desire in the tech sector to address the issue of diversity and to increase female participation. We must, however, make it attractive. Whether one if male or female, if one goes the route of an FET qualification, one is seen as an equivalent competent individual as somebody who takes the route of a third level qualification. That is the essence of it. Thereafter, we have to definitely profile role models. We have also to get across to people that the jobs in the tech sector are not just about sitting in front of a computer. The idea of having regular demonstrations of the variety of cohorts that come into the sectors is very important.

We have to get parity of esteem for FET provision. We have won that argument with companies. The companies now want to access the apprentices and we are getting real traction for the tech apprenticeships, but we need to win the argument with young people, learners and the mothers and fathers of Ireland that this is a credible route to a good career for their sons or daughters.